TRINIDAD-CAL confirms immediate resignation of chief executive officer

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Monday confirmed the immediate resignation of its chief executive officer, Garvin Medera.

In a statement, the airline said that to ensure continuity and stability, chief operating officer Nirmala Ramai has been appointed acting chief executive officer “until further notice” and that under the “guidance” of the board of directors, “she will work closely with the senior leadership team to support the airline through this transition”.

The statement gave no reasons for the “immediate resignation” but thanked Medera “for his years of service and leadership and wishes him the very best in his future endeavors”.

The statement quotes Medera as saying that he wanted to “take this opportunity to thank all the employees of Caribbean Airlines who have done such a fantastic job over the past few years, facing some tough challenges and being their best, time and again, for each other and our passengers.

“Also, thanks to partners for their support and commitment, and customers for their trust and loyalty. I wish everyone well,” he added.

CAL said that it would “continue to operate its full schedule, with no disruption to customers or partners” and that the board of directors “emphasizes that this leadership transition comes at an important time for the airline and is part of its ongoing focus on stability, safety, and accountability.”

Son, after coming to office following the April 28 general election, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar issued an ultimatum to the airline’s management, telling them to “sort out the mess” within two years or face replacement.

“I am giving the management of CAL two years to sort it out; otherwise, everyone there will be looking for a new job,” Persad-Bissessar said in August, stressing that taxpayers would no longer bankroll under-performing State enterprises.

The statement by CAL on Monday said that as part of the new transition, the board and senior leadership team will be focusing on five key initiatives, namely supporting employees and stakeholders with open communication and care, reviewing operations to increase efficiency and modernisation, enhancing the customer experience with improved services, developing a long-term, financially responsible and sustainable growth plan and conducting complete and thorough audits of all departments and processes, to strengthen governance, safety, and accountability.

“The airline also reaffirmed its commitment to developing and promoting talent from within the organization, before seeking external candidates, to provide employees with clear opportunities for growth and career advancement.

“Caribbean Airlines will continue to serve the region with pride, reliability, and a steadfast commitment to safety. The Board of Directors remains committed to open and timely communication with employees, customers, and stakeholders as this leadership transition and strategic plan are implemented,” the statement added.