New questions are being raised about the Government's plan
to divest Air Jamaica
following reports that opposition groups in Trinidad
are planning to seek an injunction barring Caribbean Airlines from taking over
the entity.
It is reported that legal proceedings could begin as early as next week.
There is growing opposition in the twin island republic to the impending deal for Caribbean Airlines to acquire Jamaica's debt ridden national airline.
Legal red tape
Attorney-at-law, Bert Samuels, says if an injunction is indeed sought, it will have implications for the Jamaican Government's timetable to place Air Jamaica in private hands.
"One has to bear in mind that an injunction is for normally 14 to 21 days. What would happen to our negotiations, it is better we put them on hold because if the purchaser is being prohibited then it means that we may be blown out of the field which could impact negatively on us wanting to sell them this airline," Mr. Samuels said.
Based on a commitment the Bruce Golding administration has given the International Monetary Fund, Air Jamaica has to be sold by the middle of this year failing which the airline will be closed.
Ticket office closes
Meanwhile, the winding up of Air Jamaica's operations will enter another phase Friday.
The airline's ticket office in New Kingston will officially close its doors at the end of business on Friday afternoon.
Services will now be offered by telephone at Air Jamaica's Reservations Centre, or at the Ticket Office at the Norman Manley International Airport.
Ticket purchases can also be done via the website AirJamaica.com.
Air Jamaica's President and CEO, Bruce Nobles says the closure of the New Kingston office will not cause much dislocation as most airline tickets are purchased at AirJamaica.com or through travel agencies.
Displaced
And the National Workers Union says it expects that the Air Jamaica employees displaced by Friday's ticket office closure will be transferred to other departments at the airline.
NWU Vice President, Granville Valentine, says the union will not accept any proposal from the management for the workers to be laid off.
"These workers will be transferred to other locations mainly at the Harbour Street headquarters and possibly at the Norman Manley International Airport the function will definitely be transferred to both locations. We basically said to management that we need to sit down to ensure that all the workers are treated fairly and to look at what steps need to be taken to move forward," Mr. Valentine said.
It is reported that legal proceedings could begin as early as next week.
There is growing opposition in the twin island republic to the impending deal for Caribbean Airlines to acquire Jamaica's debt ridden national airline.
Legal red tape
Attorney-at-law, Bert Samuels, says if an injunction is indeed sought, it will have implications for the Jamaican Government's timetable to place Air Jamaica in private hands.
"One has to bear in mind that an injunction is for normally 14 to 21 days. What would happen to our negotiations, it is better we put them on hold because if the purchaser is being prohibited then it means that we may be blown out of the field which could impact negatively on us wanting to sell them this airline," Mr. Samuels said.
Based on a commitment the Bruce Golding administration has given the International Monetary Fund, Air Jamaica has to be sold by the middle of this year failing which the airline will be closed.
Ticket office closes
Meanwhile, the winding up of Air Jamaica's operations will enter another phase Friday.
The airline's ticket office in New Kingston will officially close its doors at the end of business on Friday afternoon.
Services will now be offered by telephone at Air Jamaica's Reservations Centre, or at the Ticket Office at the Norman Manley International Airport.
Ticket purchases can also be done via the website AirJamaica.com.
Air Jamaica's President and CEO, Bruce Nobles says the closure of the New Kingston office will not cause much dislocation as most airline tickets are purchased at AirJamaica.com or through travel agencies.
Displaced
And the National Workers Union says it expects that the Air Jamaica employees displaced by Friday's ticket office closure will be transferred to other departments at the airline.
NWU Vice President, Granville Valentine, says the union will not accept any proposal from the management for the workers to be laid off.
"These workers will be transferred to other locations mainly at the Harbour Street headquarters and possibly at the Norman Manley International Airport the function will definitely be transferred to both locations. We basically said to management that we need to sit down to ensure that all the workers are treated fairly and to look at what steps need to be taken to move forward," Mr. Valentine said.
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