A former chairman of Bahamasair on Wednesday condemned the appointment of a controversial figure as acting general manager of the national flag carrier, while former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham criticized the process that led to the resignation of the airline’s former managing director.
Lester Turnquest told The Bahama Journal that the board of Bahamasair was sending the wrong message with the appointment of Henry Woods, who was cited by the 1995 Commission of Inquiry.
Mr. Turnquest, who said the airline has been disgraced by the board’s decision, also said the appointment has turned Bahamasair into “a national joke.”
The Commission’s report in fact recommended that Mr. Woods be investigated for improper use of the company’s resources, and condemned his management style.
It was revealed during the inquiry that Mr. Woods used the company’s resources for his personal endeavors.
“[Members of] the board of Bahamasair should be forced to resign,” Mr. Turnquest said. “They are not representing the interest of the Bahamian people. The Commission of Inquiry had very adverse findings about Mr. Woods’ conduct. A significant portion of the wrongdoing was admitted by him as being improper.”
He called Mr. Woods’ appointment “a national travesty.”
“The government has to fix it,” said Mr. Turnquest, who served as chairman for just over three years in the 1990’s.
He said that during his time as chairman recommendations were made to him from both sides of the political divide for Mr. Woods to be appointed, but he said he resisted.
“I didn’t feel it was appropriate. I’m not saying that we ought not to forgive, but I think that we ought to send the right message to our young people-It just further reinforces in my mind the necessity for any government to divest itself of these corporations because when politicians put their hands in business, God help you.”
Mr. Turnquest said it is time for Bahamasair to be “taken from around the necks of the Bahamian people.” He said the fact that the board would make such a decision to appoint Mr. Woods acting general manager shows how “terrible [Bahamasair] is.”
“There is not a culture of excellence surrounding the operations of the national airline,” Mr. Turnquest said.
He added, “I bid a happy farewell to Paul Major, who never should have been appointed in the first place. I don’t think that he had the skills that were necessary, that his mode of operation of that airline operated to the advantage of Bahamians.”
Mr. Major said on Tuesday that he was leaving the airline to pursue other interests, but The Bahama Journal was able to confirm that the board recently refused to renew his contract.
On Wednesday, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham weighed in on the issue.
“It’s only symptomatic of the chaotic manner in which this government operates,” Mr. Ingraham told The Bahama Journal outside the House of Assembly.
“Whatever the merits or demerits of Paul Major’s departure from Bahamasair, that is not the way to do it and they shouldn’t have done it that way. They shouldn’t have waited until his contract is about to expire and give the impression that he’s being fired because they’re not firing him, especially since he’s been offered another job at the Water and Sewerage Corporation, but it’s not my business.”
He said he had no comment on the appointment of Mr. Woods.
Basil Sands, chairman of Bahamasair, who was also outside the House of Assembly chatting with politicians on the matter, told The Bahama Journal he had no further comments. A day earlier, he confirmed that Mr. Major had resigned and Mr. Woods had been appointed.
Mr. Woods did not return a call from The Bahama Journal on Wednesday.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
