Prominent businessman Gerald Hadeed, managing director of Beacon Insurance, on Thursday was appointed chairman of the new board of the Airports Authority of T&T (AATT). Hadeed and nine other board members were handed their instruments of appointment by Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma. Sharma stood in for Transport Minister Devant Maharaj whom he said was in India with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar trying to see how best he could develop the local transport sector with alliances in that country. Hadeed, 72, who cycles 50 miles daily, said developing customer service in the local airline industry was one of the board's main goals.
He added: "We are here to ensure there is proper customer service at both airports. Proper customer service is all that is needed to make the airports the best in the Caribbean." Hadeed said it started with the employees. Sharma told members of the AATT management present that Caribbean Airlines, a new acquisition of the Government, was doing well under their watch. He said he could not think of a better person than Hadeed to head the new board and urged members to co-operate with each other, as in a marriage. Louis J Frederick, general manager of the AATT, said the authority was heartened by the variety of skills represented in the new board of directors.