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New chairman Marshall wants ‘clean’ CAL
By Carla Bridglal carla.bridglal@trinidadexpress.com
Story Updated: May 20, 2013 at 10:08 PM ECT
Finance Minister Larry Howai said yesterday new Caribbean Airlines (CAL) chairman Philip Marshall got the job because of his career experience, especially in Jamaica.
“He was the first chairman of the Corporate Governance Commission for the private sector in Jamaica and you know we have some challenges in Jamaica. Also, because of his background, he has experience generally dealing with turnaround situation,” Howai told the Express yesterday outside the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), Port of Spain.
He noted that only the Trinidadian members of CAL’s board were removed, with Jamaican Denis Lalor as the only one retained, as he had been appointed by the Jamaican government.
For the new board, Howai said he needed a particular kind of skill set from the members, and was still searching for more members, which is why this current crop is just interim.
Marshall, also at the Hyatt yesterday for an Institute of Internal Auditors workshop on Corporate Governance, said his aim at the airline will be to implement proper corporate governance policies, so “when the chairman speaks he speaks for the whole board”.
Marshall is currently the Director of the Strategic Management Office at the Ministry of Finance. He is an accountant by training, registered with accounting governing bodies in the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. He was deputy chairman of auditing firm Ernst and Young Caribbean, and was previously an Independent senator in the T&T Parliament from 1995 – 2000.
He said he was reluctant to say more about what changes he intends to implement at the board level, because he was yet to receive his instruments of appointment—which should be presented today. He added that the first board meeting should be next week as some members are out of the country.
He said he was approached last week by Howai to take the position and “responded readily for the benefit of my country”.
He noted that when boards are appointed care should be taken to place the best possible people on them.
By Carla Bridglal carla.bridglal@trinidadexpress.com
Story Updated: May 20, 2013 at 10:08 PM ECT
Finance Minister Larry Howai said yesterday new Caribbean Airlines (CAL) chairman Philip Marshall got the job because of his career experience, especially in Jamaica.
“He was the first chairman of the Corporate Governance Commission for the private sector in Jamaica and you know we have some challenges in Jamaica. Also, because of his background, he has experience generally dealing with turnaround situation,” Howai told the Express yesterday outside the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), Port of Spain.
He noted that only the Trinidadian members of CAL’s board were removed, with Jamaican Denis Lalor as the only one retained, as he had been appointed by the Jamaican government.
For the new board, Howai said he needed a particular kind of skill set from the members, and was still searching for more members, which is why this current crop is just interim.
Marshall, also at the Hyatt yesterday for an Institute of Internal Auditors workshop on Corporate Governance, said his aim at the airline will be to implement proper corporate governance policies, so “when the chairman speaks he speaks for the whole board”.
Marshall is currently the Director of the Strategic Management Office at the Ministry of Finance. He is an accountant by training, registered with accounting governing bodies in the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. He was deputy chairman of auditing firm Ernst and Young Caribbean, and was previously an Independent senator in the T&T Parliament from 1995 – 2000.
He said he was reluctant to say more about what changes he intends to implement at the board level, because he was yet to receive his instruments of appointment—which should be presented today. He added that the first board meeting should be next week as some members are out of the country.
He said he was approached last week by Howai to take the position and “responded readily for the benefit of my country”.
He noted that when boards are appointed care should be taken to place the best possible people on them.
“Unfortunately with State enterprises, what people are really concerned about is the Integrity Commission and having to disclose information that (anyone can access), and I see no reason why that information cannot be held in escrow and it is only opened when specific information is required... People can be very concerned with disclosing this information on the basis of security. That is the major reason people have told me they are (hesitant to serve their country),” he said.