Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
LOCAL JOURNALISTS are peeved about the treatment meted out to them yesterday by the Montego Bay Airport Ltd. (MBJ), operators of the Sangster International Airport.
They complained that preference was given to international journalists covering the inaugural flight of the United Kingdom-based Virgin Atlantic aircraft to Jamaica, which will begin a bi-weekly scheduled flight between Montego Bay and London Gatwick Airport.
At about 12:40 p.m. while the aircraft was taxiing to the gate, MBJ's duty manager Andrew Smith demanded that the local press should utilise a ramp almost at the rear of the plane, from where they should take photographs of Virgin's CEO Richard Branson as he exited the aircraft.
The media representatives questioned if Richard Branson would be exiting the plane from the front door and Smith replied, "Yes, is that all right?" and walked off. Mr. Branson exited the plane from the rear and went on to one of its wings, sporting a dreadlock wig with a mock marijuana cigarette.
DISGRACEFUL
The local journalists then proceeded towards the staircase where Mr. Branson was positioned, when Peter Hall, one of the security managers at the airport, ordered them off the stairs, while international media persons took their positions to take photographs.
The treatment of the local media representatives by the MBJ staff was not viewed favourably by president of the Western Jamaica Media Assoc-iation, Janet Silvera.
"We deserve to be treated with respect, as anyone else. What happened is disgraceful and should never be repeated," she said.
David Soloway, director of marketing at MBJ, told The Gleaner that he was not aware of the incident and apologised. He stated that a written apology would follow.
