By Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

THE NATIONAL Insurance Fund (NIF) is now taking steps to collect rent amounting to more than $100 million owed by some of its tenants, including Air Jamaica Ltd., which is $77 million in arrears.

Alvin McIntosh, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, admitted yesterday that Air Jamaica, which occupies some floors at 72 Harbour Street, was in arrears with its rent.

Mr. McIntosh would not comment on the size of the debt.

"We are in discussion about a swop of property that would take into account some of the outstanding rent owed," Mr. McIntosh said yesterday.

However, The Gleaner was reliably informed that the amount owing was about $77 million, accumulated over five years.

The Gleaner was also told that other tenants, including Government agencies, owed another $30 million combined for rent.

Claudette McLeish, financial controller at Air Jamaica, said yesterday that she could not discuss the matter.

Mr. McIntosh explained that Air Jamaica owned a building in New Kingston and it was that building for which discussions were being advanced for a swop of ownership.

The arrangement, if the parties agree, will see Air Jamaica becoming owners of the Harbour Street building while the NIF will acquire the airline's New Kingston property.

Mr. McIntosh said any outstanding balance which Air Jamaica owed after the exchange of properties would be paid up.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

He admitted that some Government offices rented NIF buildings but they paid rent according to their cash flow.

For other properties, the NIF has been attempting to sell the real estate.

The NIF and Portmore Development Company own 41 shops in the Portmore Shopping Mall, St. Catherine, where some shop tenants are delinquent. Mr. McIntosh said they were now in the process of divesting those shops and so far there were only five for which they have got no offers.