THE EDITOR, Sir:THE JAMAICAN public needs an investigation of everyone that had decision-making powers with respect to the operation of Air Jamaica. It is not possible that such an investigation could lead to the exoneration of everyone - someone would have to take responsibility, apart from the taxpayer.
There is no excuse given that, at the end of the day, the public has to pay, but during the process they had no say. How can the accumulated losses reach $52 billion (that is, $52,000,000,000) - yes nine zeroes - before the public found out that it was responsible for $52 billion of losses? This works out to be about $20,000 per Jamaican, including children.
REFLECTION OF DISRESPECT
For the Minister of Finance to compliment the Butch Stewart-led team about the marketing of the airline and then when asked about mismanagement say that we should not dwell on the past but move forward, is a reflection of the disrespect that he has for the taxpayer and the Jamaican public. It could lead cynics to draw many conclusions, none of which could be complimentary. How can the minister be taken seriously when he presents his next budget? At one stage in my life, I thought he was the best person to lead the country, but this has convinced me otherwise.
What upsets me most about it is the inconsistency in the way that the same minister of finance dealt with some indigenous bankers a few years ago, compared with how he is dealing with the most recent custodians of Air Jamaica. Those indigenous bankers were roughly treated, and deservingly so. They were not complimented on their great marketing abilities, and rightly so. The question is why those in charge of this Air Jamaica debacle have not been treated accordingly. Instead, they continue to hold some of the most important positions in our society - both private sector and public sector.
In the meantime, Butch Stewart and his colleagues can claim to be 'as free as a bird', and probably continue to receive international awards, while the unfortunate Jamaican taxpayer is trapped with the burden of dealing with losses that they all created. What a shame! This entire matter should be fully ventilated, so that the public can really understand the nature of the leadership we face.
I am, etc.,
ADELLA WOODS
adellawoods@yahoo.com
An irate Jamaican
