Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
AIRPORT--Michel Hodge's career has come full circle. He is back at SXM Airport as the chairman of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) Holding Company.
Hodge brings to the holding and operating companies of the airport many years of experience in the aviation and airport management field, as well as expertise from his 12-year tenure on the supervisory board of St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies where he served as vice chairman.
Hodge was nominated by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Romain Laville for the post on the holding company board. His appointment in July to the post of chairman comes after he was vetted and approved as a board member by the Corporate Governance Council and appointed by Minister Ted Richardson. He joined the operating company board in December 2013 as a member then the holding company in April 2014.
The holding company oversees the assets of the airport as well as the running of the SXM Airport operating company.
With his experience of the merging of the holding and operating companies of the harbour group, Hodge wants to see something similar in the future for the airport. "This will streamline this operation and make supervision less cumbersome."
He is "happy" to be back at the airport.
"It is a place I have been a part of since my early days of flying. I learnt to fly at the airport via Winair [Windward Islands Airways International-Ed.]," Hodge said, adding that he looks forward to using his experience to better the country's aviation sector.
A number of plans are in the works for the continued rejuvenation of the airport; upgrade its fixed-based operator (FBO) status and the new fire station among others.
Many employees of the operating company are said to happy about having Hodge on the holding company and Beresford on the operating company as they have hands-on aviation and flying experience. Both men are pilots.
Looking to the sustainability in employees for the future, Hodge said he will urge the airport management to promote the airport and aviation more in school. "Our youngsters need to know all of the opportunities available at the airport. It's not just about pilots and planes. We need much specialised people for so many areas. If young people don't know about the career opportunities they will not opt to study in those fields."
Hodge is happy with the airport's recent sponsorship of a young pilot to finish his airline studies and that Winair has already guaranteed him a job as a pilot.
Hodge commended SXM Airport Managing Director Regina Labega on her "tremendous job" of running the daily operations of the airport and securing the 270 employees.
A "good working relationship" exists between the board and Labega, said Hodge.
Hodge looks forward to "a great working relationship" with the incoming minister who will be the shareholder's representative for the airport.
He commended Minister Richardson for his input in the past year.
