I refer to the recent UDP public meeting in West Bay and to other public utterances by the Leader of the Opposition with respect to Cayman Airways.
It is interesting to note that when Mr. McKeeva Bush was Leader of Government Business and Minister responsible for CAL he pleaded for CAL not to be used as a political football.
That sentiment was respected by the then Opposition because they understood that to do otherwise would not be in the best interest of CAL. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and Mr. Bush no longer has control of CAL he has demonstrated repeatedly his delight with using CAL as a political football, again without regard for the hardworking and dedicated employees of our national flag carrier.
All of this rhetoric is part of an attempt by the UDP to launch an early election campaign. Let me remind the UDP that there will be time for campaigning in the future but it is not now.
I assure the UDP that they will not be mistaken when that time comes but I hasten to add that the next general election is a minimum of two years and three months away.
But if Mr. Bush is still in the mood for talking about CAL allow me to propose an agenda for his next meeting or public utterances:
(1) Explain why he called a public meeting in West Bay when he was Minister to decide whether or not to shut down CAL operations. (The only thing that stopped him from closing CAL then was that a large number of CAL employees and their connections turned out to the meeting and they voted to keep CAL.)
(2) Perhaps he could also explain why when he didn’t get his way with item (1) that he began to flirt with the idea of having Air Jamaica take over CAL operations;
(3) Explain the US$75,821.73 debt which he personally owed to CAL at the time of the last election and why did he wait until it was questioned in the Legislative Assembly to pay his debt; and
(4) Make an honest statement as to whether or not he would have paid his debt at CAL had he remained the Minister post the 2005 Elections.
I have made many public statements on the CAL restructuring and why it is necessary and there is no need to repeat them here except to say that one of the first things that I did as Minister was to table CAL’s financial statements so that the public could understand the dire financial situation. These statements had not been tabled for several years because Mr. Bush didn’t want to expose his mismanagement of CAL.
Allow me to offer a view as to why Mr. Bush is trying to undermine the change that’s under way at CAL.
He understands clearly that at the end of this process CAL will have its own attractive headquarters with the majority of its staff under one roof; a more efficient fleet of 737-300s with a new colour scheme complemented by better schedules; equitable salary scales and salaries for our hard working employees; CAL will require less annual subsidy as a result of the efficiencies which will be achieved; a succession plan in place; and the government can then begin to pay down on the significant historical debt which CAL has carried for many years.
A new CAL will emerge from this exercise in two years and the country will be assured that it will continue to receive the benefits of having a national flag carrier. This is what Mr. Bush is scared about. He does not want the CAL turn around plan to succeed because it will further expose his mismanagement of the airline.
You can’t have it both ways Mr. Bush. You can’t be allowed to go against CAL when you were Minister by trying to gain support to shut it down or have Air Jamaica take it over and to now pretend to be CAL’s friend and saviour.
If you truly wish to help Cayman Airways become more efficient and to ensure its long term sustainability then join hands with the government and CAL, help make a difference and stop engaging in primitive 20th Century politics. Now, the proof will be in the pudding and the country will see whether you continue to use CAL as your political football for what you incorrectly perceive as political expediency or whether you have the best interests of CAL and its dedicated employees at heart.
CAL employees can be assured that this government will not entertain the thought of shutting it down or handing it over to someone else to run. CAL is simply too valuable to the country. It is, like the provision of health care and education, an essential service for the country. The terrorists’ attacks in the US in 2001 and CAL’s pre and post Hurricane Ivan operations served to convince even CAL’s strongest critics that it is, in fact, an essential service.
Finally, let me say that I have full confidence in the board of directors that I have appointed, headed by the Chairperson Ms Angelyn Hernandez. The board has been assiduously working to put in place a qualified and creative management team and I am confident that the board, the management team and the other employees of CAL will collectively and effectively deliver on the shareholder’s mandate.
The Cayman Islands has always been proud to have a national flag carrier. Cayman Airways is an integral part of our national pride and may it remain so in perpetuity.
Charles E. Clifford –Minister responsible for Cayman Airways
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