The Editor, Sir:

From before the former government went ahead with the sale of the Heathrow slots in London to Virgin Atlantic, as the then Opposition Spokesman on Transport, the Hon. Mike Henry raised strong objection to the proposed deal, giving detailed outlines of the imprudence of the move. That position of his has been maintained since then and has naturally continued into his role as Transport Minister.

Now if he, and the then opposition Jamaica Labour Party, had strong reservations to the sale of the critical Heathrow slots by Air Jamaica, isn't it natural that the same reservations would have been extended on their ascendancy into government?

The Gleaner editorial of November 1 spoke of 'crude' behaviour on Minister Henry's part in respect of his declining to attend the reception marking the inaugural flight of Virgin Atlantic to Jamaica, on Tuesday night. Now, just what made that decision crude, and how responsible was it of The Gleaner to rush to judgement on the matter without getting a more rounded picture of the various factors which led to the decision?

Was any effort made by The Gleaner team members to avail themselves of the following information?

1) Since being appointed Minister with responsibility for the Transport portfolio, Mr. Henry has not been able to speak with the Virgin head, despite numerous attempts by the minister to do so.

2) Ever since the new government announced the decision to revisit the Virgin deal, there has been apparent reluctance to have dialogue with the new administration, and accept its right to at least re-examine the details of the deal that was signed of by the former government.

So, with Mr. Henry as Jamaica's Transport Minister being unable to get a call taken by Sir Richard Branson in the United Kingdom, could the minister be reasonably expected to attend Sir Richard's gala function in St. Andrew, highlighting Virgin's arrival in Jamaica?

Why is Virgin so averse to any re-examination of the deal? I wish to reassert the minister's position, that the former government made a big mistake in selling the prized Heathrow slots for a very low price. Is it possible to reverse that situation or broker a more amicable deal?

In the meantime, the minister finds it difficult to see what is so wrong with his position of seeking to right something that was so wrong in the first place.

I am, etc.,

REGINALD ALLEN

Communication Manager

rallen@mtw.gov.jm

Ministry of Transport

and Works