In a decisive move to safeguard over 700 jobs and maintain vital air connections across the Caribbean and the eastern United States, the Trinidad and Tobago (TT) government, under the leadership of Premier Dr. Eric Williams, took control of British West Indian Airways (BWIA) in 1961. This action was prompted by the British Overseas Airways Corporation’s (BOAC) proposed austerity measures, which threatened significant staff retrenchments and disruptions to regional air services. Premier Williams, addressing the House of Representatives on March 23, 1962, highlighted the government’s intervention to acquire BWIA, emphasizing the need to preserve employment and sustain air links. BOAC, in a letter dated June 16, 1961, valued BWIA at £1,034,036 (BWI$5,445,726), but independent technical advice was sought to facilitate negotiations. The TT government engaged C.S. Sundaram, a consultant from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), whose report on September 27, 1961, influenced the decision to acquire BWIA on October 3, 1961. The TT government’s acquisition plan included purchasing BWIA as a going concern, negotiating pooling arrangements with BOAC, and offering BOAC a 20% equity stake. The final agreement, concluded on October 7, 1961, saw BOAC agree to the acquisition for $2.5 million, less than half the initial valuation. This strategic move underscored the TT government’s commitment to regional connectivity and employment stability, independent of broader federal plans.