From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Jamaicans overseas and the extradition affair
BY Delano Franklyn
Saturday, May 08, 2010
AS it is in Jamaica, the most talked about issue currently among Jamaicans living abroad is the extradition request for Christopher Coke, and how it has been, and is being handled by the Bruce Golding-led administration.
Read the whole column here.
Snippet(s):
"This issue has pushed the divestment of Air Jamaica to the number two position on the list of concerns by Jamaicans living outside Jamaica. While being severely critical of the burial of Air Jamaica by the Government, they have resigned their minds to the fact that despite the attempts of the pilots to keep Air Jamaica in Jamaican hands, the Government, as demanded by the International Monetary Fund, had no option, or was not prepared to consider any other option, but to conclude the deal with Caribbean Airlines.
Some members of the Diaspora in the New York asked why are some members of the JLP Government — for whom they have a lot of respect — such as (from left) Dr Kenneth Baugh, Delroy Chuck, Dwight Nelson, Edmund Bartlett, and Rudyard Spencer silent on the extradition matter."
"Why has the prime minister seen it fit to be leading the defence of a man who is being sought by the State Department for drug- and gun-running?"
"Are (sic) the prime minister prepared to sacrifice his political career as a result of this extradition issue because the person for whom the extradition has been made is a leading member of his own constituency and an alleged 'powerbroker' in the party which he leads?
* Is the prime minister and the other members of his team afraid of what the person whose extradition request is being sought might possibly say about the involvement in criminal activities of any other well-known person or persons in Jamaica?"
&
"The members of the diasporic community, rightly or wrongly, no different from persons living in Jamaica, are not making and seem not to be prepared to delink the issues. They see, for example, the revocation of the visa of Wayne Chen and the entertainers as being linked to the tightening of the screws against Jamaica and Jamaicans because of the Government's refusal to honour the extradition request.
As a result of this view, many Jamaicans living overseas, as well as inside Jamaica are afraid to travel out of fear that they will be told that their visa has been revoked. One middle-class professional who has developed a distinguished career in the area of health in Baltimore, told me that she always visited Jamaica yearly, but she has no plans to visit until this impasse is settled.
A young man in the teaching profession in New York said that he will be visiting Jamaica in July this year and he is extremely fearful that his visa may be revoked when he is returning to the USA; and one Jamaican living in the Hartford area of Connecticut said he knows not what to make of the situation because, if 'Mr Chen's visa can be revoked without prior notice, so can mine', so he is not taking the chance to travel to Jamaica any time soon."
Showing posts with label Air Jamaica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Air Jamaica. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
JO - No golden parachute for Air J incompetents, please
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
No golden parachute for Air J incompetents, please
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) purchased Air Jamaica to become the region's largest airline, with the Trinidadian Government injecting US$300 million to streamline the operation, following CAL's designation as the national carrier of Jamaica.
Read the whole editorial here.
Snippet(s):
"This is a sign of the times as the global economic crisis has left very few profitable airlines. Indeed, United Airlines and Continental Airlines have merged to create the world's largest airline.
An airline of the size of Air Jamaica will find it very difficult to realise the economies of scale and scope which would make its operations cost-effective. In the quest for viability, the excellent work of the pilots and cabin crew was let down by poor management and ineffective boards of mostly political appointees. Some board members were repeatedly reappointed, despite the unprofitability of the operations.
Air Jamaica, one of the finest airlines in the world in terms of its flight operations, suffered because it had too many locals who were not specialists in airline management, or foreigners casted off by foreign airlines. Management consistently refused to consult the pilots and crew and ignored their suggestions about improving the efficiency of the airline.
How routes were chosen, how they were operated and how they were mismanaged remain an enigma."
"Successive governments of Jamaica (GOJ) did not spend their travel budgets with the airline that it owned, although it was Jamaica's designated national carrier. US Government officials are required by law to travel only on American-owned airlines."
"The failure to use Air Jamaica must also be blamed on the travelling public and the worst offenders were the ministers of the GOJ. The most egregious conduct and a lasting indictment is that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Air Jamaica was deprived of hundreds of millions of US dollars over its entire history. Many Jamaican travellers abused the privilege of having a national airline by being late and travelling with too many bags."
&
"Bottomline, we are all to blame for what has happened to Air Jamaica. For a brief decade -- 1994 to 2004 under Mr Gordon 'Butch' Stewart -- we saw a flicker of hope, a sign of the possibilities of a profitable, well-run Air Jamaica. Alas, that too did not last, thanks again to our politicians."
Jamaica Observer
No golden parachute for Air J incompetents, please
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) purchased Air Jamaica to become the region's largest airline, with the Trinidadian Government injecting US$300 million to streamline the operation, following CAL's designation as the national carrier of Jamaica.
Read the whole editorial here.
Snippet(s):
"This is a sign of the times as the global economic crisis has left very few profitable airlines. Indeed, United Airlines and Continental Airlines have merged to create the world's largest airline.
An airline of the size of Air Jamaica will find it very difficult to realise the economies of scale and scope which would make its operations cost-effective. In the quest for viability, the excellent work of the pilots and cabin crew was let down by poor management and ineffective boards of mostly political appointees. Some board members were repeatedly reappointed, despite the unprofitability of the operations.
Air Jamaica, one of the finest airlines in the world in terms of its flight operations, suffered because it had too many locals who were not specialists in airline management, or foreigners casted off by foreign airlines. Management consistently refused to consult the pilots and crew and ignored their suggestions about improving the efficiency of the airline.
How routes were chosen, how they were operated and how they were mismanaged remain an enigma."
"Successive governments of Jamaica (GOJ) did not spend their travel budgets with the airline that it owned, although it was Jamaica's designated national carrier. US Government officials are required by law to travel only on American-owned airlines."
"The failure to use Air Jamaica must also be blamed on the travelling public and the worst offenders were the ministers of the GOJ. The most egregious conduct and a lasting indictment is that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Air Jamaica was deprived of hundreds of millions of US dollars over its entire history. Many Jamaican travellers abused the privilege of having a national airline by being late and travelling with too many bags."
&
"Bottomline, we are all to blame for what has happened to Air Jamaica. For a brief decade -- 1994 to 2004 under Mr Gordon 'Butch' Stewart -- we saw a flicker of hope, a sign of the possibilities of a profitable, well-run Air Jamaica. Alas, that too did not last, thanks again to our politicians."
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
JO - Air J cleared for take-off
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Air J cleared for take-off
Saturday, April 17, 2010
THE Air Jamaica deal with Caribbean Airlines seems set to take off again with the granting of a 60-day waiver by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) allowing the Lovebird to fly to that country when the Transitional Services Agreement (TSA) between both carriers comes into effect on April 30.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"On March 24, Air Jamaica wrote to the DOT asking for permission to continue to operate on the terms of its existing authority during the six- to 12-month transition period expected under the divestment agreement with Caribbean Airlines.
Failing that permission, the airline asked the Americans for an urgent waiver of the DOT’s standard ownership and control policy, in order for it to maintain services for the one-year period under its TSA with the Trinidad-operated Caribbean Airlines.
In a statement issued yesterday, Henry explained that the waiver, which comes into effect on April 15, will allow for the Air Jamaica/Caribbean Airlines operation to be able to fly in and out of the US."
Jamaica Observer
Air J cleared for take-off
Saturday, April 17, 2010
THE Air Jamaica deal with Caribbean Airlines seems set to take off again with the granting of a 60-day waiver by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) allowing the Lovebird to fly to that country when the Transitional Services Agreement (TSA) between both carriers comes into effect on April 30.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"On March 24, Air Jamaica wrote to the DOT asking for permission to continue to operate on the terms of its existing authority during the six- to 12-month transition period expected under the divestment agreement with Caribbean Airlines.
Failing that permission, the airline asked the Americans for an urgent waiver of the DOT’s standard ownership and control policy, in order for it to maintain services for the one-year period under its TSA with the Trinidad-operated Caribbean Airlines.
In a statement issued yesterday, Henry explained that the waiver, which comes into effect on April 15, will allow for the Air Jamaica/Caribbean Airlines operation to be able to fly in and out of the US."
Friday, April 3, 2009
JG - Is dollarisation the answer?
Jamaica Gleaner
Is dollarisation the answer?
Published: Sunday March 15, 2009
Wayne Chen, Contributor
Chen
The recent rapid slide in the Jamaican dollar and hike in interest rates have heightened fears of a future of economic instability and the global financial meltdown has only served to turn fear into despondency.
Back in 1995, Jamaica was faced with low growth, high inflation, high interest rates and a sliding dollar. Seeking to be proactive in the face of a looming crisis, the Private Sector Organistion of Jamaica commissioned Alternative Monetary Regimes For Jamaica by Steve H. Hanke and Kurt Schuler.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"They proposed three options to stabilise Jamaica's economy: full dollarisation, joining the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, or establishing a currency board."
"Adopting the US dollar would immediately protect our savings and pensions by ending devaluations and bringing inflation and interest rates down toward those that obtain in the US. Ending the devaluation and inflation expectations would eliminate speculative attacks on our currency and provide a stable, credible and secure economic and investment climate. This would lead to a more stable capital market less vulnerable to sudden capital outflows and a balance of payments less prone to crises."
&
"Many Jamaican businesses and individuals already use US dollars or denominate transactions in US dollars to protect themselves against devaluation of the local currency. They have already internalised the US dollar as a measure and store of value and marker of financial performance.
Full dollarisation would mean further integration into the US, and by extension, the world economy. It is significant to note that despite all the talk in recent years of the US being replaced by the Euro Zone or the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries as the engine of the global economy, the rest of the world is looking to the US and President Obama to pull us out of the recession."
__________
Wayne Chen is president of the Jamaica Employers' Federation. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.
Is dollarisation the answer?
Published: Sunday March 15, 2009
Wayne Chen, Contributor
Chen
The recent rapid slide in the Jamaican dollar and hike in interest rates have heightened fears of a future of economic instability and the global financial meltdown has only served to turn fear into despondency.
Back in 1995, Jamaica was faced with low growth, high inflation, high interest rates and a sliding dollar. Seeking to be proactive in the face of a looming crisis, the Private Sector Organistion of Jamaica commissioned Alternative Monetary Regimes For Jamaica by Steve H. Hanke and Kurt Schuler.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"They proposed three options to stabilise Jamaica's economy: full dollarisation, joining the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, or establishing a currency board."
"Adopting the US dollar would immediately protect our savings and pensions by ending devaluations and bringing inflation and interest rates down toward those that obtain in the US. Ending the devaluation and inflation expectations would eliminate speculative attacks on our currency and provide a stable, credible and secure economic and investment climate. This would lead to a more stable capital market less vulnerable to sudden capital outflows and a balance of payments less prone to crises."
&
"Many Jamaican businesses and individuals already use US dollars or denominate transactions in US dollars to protect themselves against devaluation of the local currency. They have already internalised the US dollar as a measure and store of value and marker of financial performance.
Full dollarisation would mean further integration into the US, and by extension, the world economy. It is significant to note that despite all the talk in recent years of the US being replaced by the Euro Zone or the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries as the engine of the global economy, the rest of the world is looking to the US and President Obama to pull us out of the recession."
__________
Wayne Chen is president of the Jamaica Employers' Federation. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
JO - Association of What's Happening Now
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Association of What's Happening Now
BARBARA GLOUDON
Friday, June 27, 2008
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The meeting of the Association of What's Happening Now is hereby called to order. This Association has been formed to keep track of all the many matters of contention and argument which keep this nation occupied while other matters, far more important, pass over our heads like an Air Jamaica plane heading for extinction.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Look now at the following:
(A) Suggestion for the taxation of the proceeds of earnings by sex workers, previously known as prostitutes.
(B) Translation of the Holy Bible into Jamaican patois.
(C) The slow death of Air Jamaica and
(D) The question of how effective a peace treaty can be without disarmament."
Jamaica Observer
Association of What's Happening Now
BARBARA GLOUDON
Friday, June 27, 2008
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The meeting of the Association of What's Happening Now is hereby called to order. This Association has been formed to keep track of all the many matters of contention and argument which keep this nation occupied while other matters, far more important, pass over our heads like an Air Jamaica plane heading for extinction.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Look now at the following:
(A) Suggestion for the taxation of the proceeds of earnings by sex workers, previously known as prostitutes.
(B) Translation of the Holy Bible into Jamaican patois.
(C) The slow death of Air Jamaica and
(D) The question of how effective a peace treaty can be without disarmament."
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
JO - Air Jamaica needs to explain Miami route cut
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Air Jamaica needs to explain Miami route cut
Thursday, January 29, 2009
We have to believe that the decision by Air Jamaica, the national airline, to drop its Miami route, among others, was based on very strong financial reasons.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Over time, Miami became the heart and soul of Air Jamaica. For convenience, it is hard to beat. Jamaicans needing to do business and shopping in Miami, a little over an hour away, and return home the same day, depended on those flights."
&
"Miami has become for Jamaicans, "Kingston 21", a virtual extension of Kingston and St Andrew, because of the many nationals living in Florida and the heavy traffic between the two gateways."
Jamaica Observer
Air Jamaica needs to explain Miami route cut
Thursday, January 29, 2009
We have to believe that the decision by Air Jamaica, the national airline, to drop its Miami route, among others, was based on very strong financial reasons.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Over time, Miami became the heart and soul of Air Jamaica. For convenience, it is hard to beat. Jamaicans needing to do business and shopping in Miami, a little over an hour away, and return home the same day, depended on those flights."
&
"Miami has become for Jamaicans, "Kingston 21", a virtual extension of Kingston and St Andrew, because of the many nationals living in Florida and the heavy traffic between the two gateways."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
JO - No rescue plan. ODPEM wants to set up rescue action plan this year.
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
No rescue plan
ODPEM wants to set up rescue action plan this year
BY INGRID BROWN Sunday Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jamaica does not have a specific response plan if a commercial jet should go down in our waters, or even on land outside of the two international airports. Neither has there ever been a simulation exercise to test the ability of emergency services to deal with any such accident, according to the country's disaster management agency, fire and airport officials.
Read the whole article here.
Jamaica Observer
No rescue plan
ODPEM wants to set up rescue action plan this year
BY INGRID BROWN Sunday Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jamaica does not have a specific response plan if a commercial jet should go down in our waters, or even on land outside of the two international airports. Neither has there ever been a simulation exercise to test the ability of emergency services to deal with any such accident, according to the country's disaster management agency, fire and airport officials.
Read the whole article here.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
JO - Air Jamaica has a broken wing
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Air Jamaica has a broken wing
Raulston Nembhard
Saturday, July 19, 2008
That Air Jamaica is experiencing troubled times is an understatement. The airline is undergoing yet another reorganisation plan where the government is hoping to have it divested and hopefully off the national budget by March 2009. We have gone that route before and we have nothing to show for it but a mountain of debt and growing disenchantment with the airline.
Read the whole article here.
Jamaica Observer
Air Jamaica has a broken wing
Raulston Nembhard
Saturday, July 19, 2008
That Air Jamaica is experiencing troubled times is an understatement. The airline is undergoing yet another reorganisation plan where the government is hoping to have it divested and hopefully off the national budget by March 2009. We have gone that route before and we have nothing to show for it but a mountain of debt and growing disenchantment with the airline.
Read the whole article here.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
JO - Air J given 'one last chance' to appear before parliamentary committee
Jamaica Observer
Air J given 'one last chance' to appear before parliamentary committee
Inside Parliament
With Alicia Dunkley
Sunday, February 15, 2009
THE failure of top executives of embattled national carrier Air Jamaica to appear before a parliamentary committee on more than one occasion has drawn the ire of members and calls for the entity to be sanctioned.
Read the whole article here.
Air J given 'one last chance' to appear before parliamentary committee
Inside Parliament
With Alicia Dunkley
Sunday, February 15, 2009
THE failure of top executives of embattled national carrier Air Jamaica to appear before a parliamentary committee on more than one occasion has drawn the ire of members and calls for the entity to be sanctioned.
Read the whole article here.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
JO - JHTA blasts Wehby for stance on Air Jamaica
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
JHTA blasts Wehby for stance on Air Jamaica
Saturday, June 14, 2008
THE umbrella organisation representing hoteliers Thursday night lashed minister with responsibility for Air Jamaica, Don Wehby, for doing nothing to strengthen the national airline, whose demise could help ruin the Jamaican economy.
Read the whole article here.
Jamaica Observer
JHTA blasts Wehby for stance on Air Jamaica
Saturday, June 14, 2008
THE umbrella organisation representing hoteliers Thursday night lashed minister with responsibility for Air Jamaica, Don Wehby, for doing nothing to strengthen the national airline, whose demise could help ruin the Jamaican economy.
Read the whole article here.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
JO - Cockpit Country discovery centre opens
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Cockpit Country discovery centre opens
Our Habitat
Mark Cummings
Sunday, June 08, 2008
THE Forestry Department, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has opened a discovery centre in this rural community, as part of their effort to manage the resources of the biodiversity-rich Cockpit Country.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The Cockpit Country, home to the Leeward Maroons of Jamaica, is considered one of the island's more important ecological and cultural assets."
&
"Dubbed the 'gateway to the Cockpit Country', the centre, was built at a cost of US$700,000 with funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under its Parks in Peril programme."
Jamaica Observer
Cockpit Country discovery centre opens
Our Habitat
Mark Cummings
Sunday, June 08, 2008
THE Forestry Department, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has opened a discovery centre in this rural community, as part of their effort to manage the resources of the biodiversity-rich Cockpit Country.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The Cockpit Country, home to the Leeward Maroons of Jamaica, is considered one of the island's more important ecological and cultural assets."
&
"Dubbed the 'gateway to the Cockpit Country', the centre, was built at a cost of US$700,000 with funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under its Parks in Peril programme."
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
JG - Students in search of their roots
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Students in search of their roots
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda (seated, second left) with some of the University of the West Indies students and their lecturer, now in Mexico. - Contributed
Students in search of their roots Fifteen students from the modern languages department of the University of the West Indies (UWI) are set to learn about their African-Mexican roots.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The group, along with a lecturer, Dr Maite Villoria-Nolla, left on Wednesday for a two-week practice/home stay in Mexico, organised by the Mexican Embassy in Jamaica.
They will visit Mexico City, as well as Yanga, a village in the state of Veracruz, which was established by a Maroon community. The community is said to have pioneered the emancipation movements in the Latin American and Caribbean countries by signing a treaty with the Spanish Crown in 1630."
Jamaica Gleaner
Students in search of their roots
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda (seated, second left) with some of the University of the West Indies students and their lecturer, now in Mexico. - Contributed
Students in search of their roots Fifteen students from the modern languages department of the University of the West Indies (UWI) are set to learn about their African-Mexican roots.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The group, along with a lecturer, Dr Maite Villoria-Nolla, left on Wednesday for a two-week practice/home stay in Mexico, organised by the Mexican Embassy in Jamaica.
They will visit Mexico City, as well as Yanga, a village in the state of Veracruz, which was established by a Maroon community. The community is said to have pioneered the emancipation movements in the Latin American and Caribbean countries by signing a treaty with the Spanish Crown in 1630."
Sunday, January 11, 2009
JG - Air Jamaica revamped
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Air Jamaica revamped
published: Sunday July 6, 2008
Williams and Banmiller
Minister without portfolio in the finance ministry, Don Wehby, last week announced changes to the board of Air Jamaica, the national carrier.
Read the whole article here.
Jamaica Gleaner
Air Jamaica revamped
published: Sunday July 6, 2008
Williams and Banmiller
Minister without portfolio in the finance ministry, Don Wehby, last week announced changes to the board of Air Jamaica, the national carrier.
Read the whole article here.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
JO - Air J needs more than US$300 m to return to glory days - Wehby
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Air J needs more than US$300 m to return to glory days - Wehby
BALFORD HENRY, Observer writer balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, July 05, 2008
AIR Jamaica will need an injection of US$300-$500 million to be able to return to its "glory days" says the minister in charge of the current divestment process, Senator Don Wehby."I have done an exercise that says what will it take as a minimum to recapitalise Air Jamaica, so that it can return to its glory days, and the figure that I have come up with is between US$300 million and US$500 million," Senator Wehby, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, told Wednesday's post- Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"(T)he country has a great asset in the Montego Bay hub, which is ideal for Central and South America and was attractive to potential partners."
Jamaica Observer
Air J needs more than US$300 m to return to glory days - Wehby
BALFORD HENRY, Observer writer balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, July 05, 2008
AIR Jamaica will need an injection of US$300-$500 million to be able to return to its "glory days" says the minister in charge of the current divestment process, Senator Don Wehby."I have done an exercise that says what will it take as a minimum to recapitalise Air Jamaica, so that it can return to its glory days, and the figure that I have come up with is between US$300 million and US$500 million," Senator Wehby, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, told Wednesday's post- Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"(T)he country has a great asset in the Montego Bay hub, which is ideal for Central and South America and was attractive to potential partners."
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