Employees of Air Jamaica
have stepped up their efforts to get control of the airline which is in the
process of being sold.
The Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) has written to Contractor General Greg Christie in a last ditch attempt to prevent Air Jamaica from being sold to foreigners.
In its letter, the Air Jamaica Staff asked the Contractor General to investigate pertinent issues relating to the divestment of the national airline.
The letter dated on Friday, among other things, questions whether the government is abiding by the rules of transparency and accountability in the disposal of public assets.
The group has questioned the rationale behind the government's and the Divestment Committee's plan to go ahead with the deal with Caribbean Airlines.
It is also questioning the expiration date of the divestment offer.
The Staff said their bid for the airline was submitted in October last year based on the directives on a website referred to by Chairman of the Divestment Committee, Dennis Lalor.
They however, argue that they had expressed an interest in acquiring the company back in August, but were not informed of a deadline at that time.
The Air Jamaica Staff is also upset that although the government failed to inform them of the shortfalls of their bid, if any, Prime Minister Bruce Golding flew to Trinidad in December to have that Government amend its bid for Air Jamaica.
PM's action not fair an objective
The Open Skies arrangement which Jamaica has signed with the United States has also come under scrutiny.
The Staff is questioning whether there is a breach on the part of the Jamaican government as they claim that Trinidad has not signed on to that agreement.
Prime Minister Golding's recent pronouncement that he was ‘more inclined to the Caribbean Airlines Offer' has also not gone down well with JALPA.
It is asking if Prime Minister's pronouncement is not an indication of bias and heavy influencing of what should be the fair and objective decisions of any divestment committee.
JALPA is also questioning whether the government has a back-up plan in the event that tourism and other sectors suffer as a result of the divestment of Air Jamaica.
On Tuesday, Office of the Contractor General sent a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister outlining it concerns about the divestment of Air Jamaica.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding then said the Contractor General was seeking clarification on JALPA's proposal to take over Air Jamaica.
According to Mr. Golding, questions have been raised whether the pilot's proposal can be considered as legitimate and in keeping with rules governing the sale of state assets.
The Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) has written to Contractor General Greg Christie in a last ditch attempt to prevent Air Jamaica from being sold to foreigners.
In its letter, the Air Jamaica Staff asked the Contractor General to investigate pertinent issues relating to the divestment of the national airline.
The letter dated on Friday, among other things, questions whether the government is abiding by the rules of transparency and accountability in the disposal of public assets.
The group has questioned the rationale behind the government's and the Divestment Committee's plan to go ahead with the deal with Caribbean Airlines.
It is also questioning the expiration date of the divestment offer.
The Staff said their bid for the airline was submitted in October last year based on the directives on a website referred to by Chairman of the Divestment Committee, Dennis Lalor.
They however, argue that they had expressed an interest in acquiring the company back in August, but were not informed of a deadline at that time.
The Air Jamaica Staff is also upset that although the government failed to inform them of the shortfalls of their bid, if any, Prime Minister Bruce Golding flew to Trinidad in December to have that Government amend its bid for Air Jamaica.
PM's action not fair an objective
The Open Skies arrangement which Jamaica has signed with the United States has also come under scrutiny.
The Staff is questioning whether there is a breach on the part of the Jamaican government as they claim that Trinidad has not signed on to that agreement.
Prime Minister Golding's recent pronouncement that he was ‘more inclined to the Caribbean Airlines Offer' has also not gone down well with JALPA.
It is asking if Prime Minister's pronouncement is not an indication of bias and heavy influencing of what should be the fair and objective decisions of any divestment committee.
JALPA is also questioning whether the government has a back-up plan in the event that tourism and other sectors suffer as a result of the divestment of Air Jamaica.
On Tuesday, Office of the Contractor General sent a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister outlining it concerns about the divestment of Air Jamaica.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding then said the Contractor General was seeking clarification on JALPA's proposal to take over Air Jamaica.
According to Mr. Golding, questions have been raised whether the pilot's proposal can be considered as legitimate and in keeping with rules governing the sale of state assets.