The pending sale of Air Jamaica to Trinidad’s Caribbean Airlines has been causing stirs among Jamaicans, and even Trinidadians, since its announcement. According to Internet bloggers some Trinidadians are not so eager to embrace the airline. Many Jamaicans believe that this is a blow to their pride and the sale of Air Jamaica to an outside entity is an embarrassment.

The government apparently is bowing to the pressures of the IMF to get rid of the airline due to the enormous debt that is owed. Air Jamaica, however, is not just a piece of asset like a hotel on the North coast that is owned by a private individual and visited by few affluent Jamaicans. Air Jamaica is a part of Jamaica, which is used to transport many Jamaicans from all walks of life and all socio economic strata of our society from one place to the other. To many it is likened to selling one of your children because you are broke and in debt.

One cannot ignore the huge debt incurred by the airline over the years but government must give a listening ear to Jamaican organizations or interested groups or individuals who show credible interest in purchasing the airline. Understandable, if Air Jamaica is sold to an outside entity then Jamaica will not have to worry about its future but again we are not going to be able to sell of all our problems. Government argument that it cannot entertain late bidding is not acceptable. The Jamaican people, if capable, should have the exclusive right of first offer to purchase. For those of us who are wishing, it is stupid to believe that we are going to dictate to Caribbean Airlines how Air Jamaica is run after the sale.

Filed under: Current Affairs

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