From Air Jamaica support group: Chronology of a bid

[Don1]

Facebook - January 27, 2010

Name:LEAVE AIR JAMAICA IN THE HANDS OF JAMAICANS

Category: Common Interest - Beliefs & Causes

Description: This group is a petition group asking the government of Jamaica to allow Air Jamaica to stay in the hands of Jamaicans

Privacy Type:Open: All content is public.


News:
Who will earn the US$1.5 million the World Bank is giving to sell the airline to a foreign entity?

Why has the Prime Minister not met with the Air Jamaica Pilots?

Why is the government of Jamaica willing to absorb US$900 million debt and sell it to a foreign entity, why not to our Jamaican workers?

Who will be earning the World Bank's US$1.5 million bonus to sell the airline to a foreigner?

Why & Who wants Air Jamaica out of the hands of "little Jamaica"?

Why has the government not met with the Pilot's Association since 2008 when they made the request?

Why did the Air Jamaica management invite over 700 Jamaican in New York to have a foreigner speak to the folks about no more Air Jamaica and not a Minister of Government?


NEWS

ACQUISITION BID FOR AIR JAMAICA BY JALPA ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF OF AIR JAMAICA



On being made aware of the relatively small figure that the Government of Jamaica had contemplated accepting for our national airline, and the consequent displacement of thousands of Jamaican workers, JALPA took a decision to submit an expression of interest for the acquisition of our national airline.


CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS TO DATE


Aug 28, 2009 Initial letter sent by JALPA to Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw expressing interest in acquiring Air Jamaica.


Sept. 3, 2009 Minister of Finance replies referring JALPA to Hon. Dennis Lalor, Chairman of Divestment Committee. PM, Shirley Williams, Dennis Lalor and Wesley Hughes copied.



Sept. 17, 2009 Team from JALPA met with Hon. Dennis Lalor consequent on referral by Ministry of Finance. Mr. Lalor advises JALPA not to do anything until he gets back to them.

Sept. 18, 2009 Letter from JALPA to Hon. Dennis Lalor requesting guidelines. Minister of Finance copied. Mr. Lalor replies referring JALPA to a website.


Oct. 12, 2009 Expression of Interest indicating objectives, methodology and commitment sent to Minister Audley Shaw, Minister of Finance. Prime Minister, Chairman of Air Jamaica, Dennis Lalor and Financial Secretary copied. NEITHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOR REPLY RECEIVED TO DATE.


Nov 2009 Calls and letters from JALPA to the GOJ requesting acknowledgement or responses. NONE HAS BEEN RECEIVED.


Dec. 15, 2009 Prime Minister written re JALPA’s continued interest in acquiring Air Jamaica. NO REPLY


Dec 29, 2009 Further letter to the Prime Minister indicating two financial institutions who have indicated an interest in funding JALPA’s bid. Minister of Finance copied. NO REPLY.


Jan 4, 2010 A more substantive upgraded proposal delivered to the Government of Jamaica. NO RESPONSE


Jan. 8, 2010 Further letter sent to the Prime Minister requesting encouragement and requesting non-disclosure agreement. Minister of Finance copied. NO RESPONSE.


WE LEAVE YOU TO JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA HAS AFFORDED A JAMAICAN ENTITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THEIR NATIONAL AIRLINE.


JALPA IS COMMITTED TO:

OPERATING A PROFITABLE AIRLINE

RETAINING AIR JAMAICA AS THE NATIONAL CARRIER FOR THE COUNTRY UNDER JAMAICAN OWNERSHIP SO AS TO BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE AND INDUSTRIES WHICH HAVE A NEED FOR AND BENEFIT FROM ITS SERVICES.


FACILITATING JAMAICAN MAJORITY OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF THE AIRLINE WHICH IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR BILATERAL AGREEMENTS EVEN UNDER OPEN-SKY POLICIES.


PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY FOR JAMAICANS.


January 15, 2010

[Willi]

If these facts are right, then the Labourites would be pulling an Omar.

If we aggo sell cheap, then sell to the Management and mek dem try a ting.

[Jawge]

Willi dem ah go come bawling fi ah bailout later on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc0xQfi4vPA#t=01mm15 boss truss mi. Willi look pon di market an watch di compition (yuh need fi watch more ah di shark dem LOL )

[MdmeX]

Sell it to them - but no bailout!

[Willi]

Mi nuh miss nuh Shark Tank yet, except for #9. LoL

Even saw 1 or 2 Dragon's lair!

[Willi]

Suh mi seh.

Mek a clear announcement that no bailout.

Butch had a bailout clause in his agreement, but there should be none in this one.

[Willi]

I agree that unless dem have deeeeep pockets they will fold in short order, barring a managerial miracle.

[Karl]

If True...JLP has acted...!

[Karl]

Willi dem ah go come bawling fi ah bailout later on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc0xQfi4vPA#t=01mm15 boss truss mi. Willi look pon di market an watch di compition (yuh need fi watch more ah di shark dem LOL )

So what if they do?

The response would be based on the then facts...and it would either be YES or NO!

[Karl]

The truth, the whole truth...and nothing but the truth!

Facebook - January 27, 2010

Name:LEAVE AIR JAMAICA IN THE HANDS OF JAMAICANS

Category: Common Interest - Beliefs & Causes

Description: This group is a petition group asking the government of Jamaica to allow Air Jamaica to stay in the hands of Jamaicans

Privacy Type:Open: All content is public.


News:
Who will earn the US$1.5 million the World Bank is giving to sell the airline to a foreign entity?

Why has the Prime Minister not met with the Air Jamaica Pilots?

Why is the government of Jamaica willing to absorb US$900 million debt and sell it to a foreign entity, why not to our Jamaican workers?

Who will be earning the World Bank's US$1.5 million bonus to sell the airline to a foreigner?

Why & Who wants Air Jamaica out of the hands of "little Jamaica"?

Why has the government not met with the Pilot's Association since 2008 when they made the request?

Why did the Air Jamaica management invite over 700 Jamaican in New York to have a foreigner speak to the folks about no more Air Jamaica and not a Minister of Government?


NEWS

ACQUISITION BID FOR AIR JAMAICA BY JALPA ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF OF AIR JAMAICA



On being made aware of the relatively small figure that the Government of Jamaica had contemplated accepting for our national airline, and the consequent displacement of thousands of Jamaican workers, JALPA took a decision to submit an expression of interest for the acquisition of our national airline.


CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS TO DATE


Aug 28, 2009 Initial letter sent by JALPA to Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw expressing interest in acquiring Air Jamaica.


Sept. 3, 2009 Minister of Finance replies referring JALPA to Hon. Dennis Lalor, Chairman of Divestment Committee. PM, Shirley Williams, Dennis Lalor and Wesley Hughes copied.



Sept. 17, 2009 Team from JALPA met with Hon. Dennis Lalor consequent on referral by Ministry of Finance. Mr. Lalor advises JALPA not to do anything until he gets back to them.

Sept. 18, 2009 Letter from JALPA to Hon. Dennis Lalor requesting guidelines. Minister of Finance copied. Mr. Lalor replies referring JALPA to a website.


Oct. 12, 2009 Expression of Interest indicating objectives, methodology and commitment sent to Minister Audley Shaw, Minister of Finance. Prime Minister, Chairman of Air Jamaica, Dennis Lalor and Financial Secretary copied. NEITHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOR REPLY RECEIVED TO DATE.


Nov 2009 Calls and letters from JALPA to the GOJ requesting acknowledgement or responses. NONE HAS BEEN RECEIVED.


Dec. 15, 2009 Prime Minister written re JALPA’s continued interest in acquiring Air Jamaica. NO REPLY


Dec 29, 2009 Further letter to the Prime Minister indicating two financial institutions who have indicated an interest in funding JALPA’s bid. Minister of Finance copied. NO REPLY.


Jan 4, 2010 A more substantive upgraded proposal delivered to the Government of Jamaica. NO RESPONSE


Jan. 8, 2010 Further letter sent to the Prime Minister requesting encouragement and requesting non-disclosure agreement. Minister of Finance copied. NO RESPONSE.


WE LEAVE YOU TO JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA HAS AFFORDED A JAMAICAN ENTITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THEIR NATIONAL AIRLINE.


JALPA IS COMMITTED TO:

OPERATING A PROFITABLE AIRLINE

RETAINING AIR JAMAICA AS THE NATIONAL CARRIER FOR THE COUNTRY UNDER JAMAICAN OWNERSHIP SO AS TO BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE AND INDUSTRIES WHICH HAVE A NEED FOR AND BENEFIT FROM ITS SERVICES.


FACILITATING JAMAICAN MAJORITY OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF THE AIRLINE WHICH IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR BILATERAL AGREEMENTS EVEN UNDER OPEN-SKY POLICIES.


PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY FOR JAMAICANS.


January 15, 2010

Gov't now expects to conclude Air J sale by March 31
BY PATRICK FOSTER Observer writer forsterp@jamaicaobserver.com


Thursday, January 28, 2010


THE cash-strapped national carrier, Air Jamaica, is finally expected to be off the Government's books by March 31, the end of the 2009/10 fiscal year. Dennis Lalor, chairman of the Air Jamaica Divestment Committee, made the disclosure yesterday at a luncheon meeting hosted by Observer Chairman Gordon Butch Stewart at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue office in Kingston.


"We are working with the Caribbean Airlines people with a view to completing by the end of March," said Lalor.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Karl Samuda (left) makes a point as Dennis Lalor, chairman of the Air Jamaica Divestment Committee, listens at yesterday’s luncheon meeting hosted by Observer Chairman Gordon ‘Butch Stewart’ at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue offices in Kingston. (Photo: Bryan Cummings


Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Karl Samuda (left) makes a point as Dennis Lalor, chairman of the Air Jamaica Divestment Committee, listens at yesterday’s luncheon meeting hosted by Observer Chairman Gordon ‘Butch Stewart’ at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue offices in Kingston. (Photo: Bryan Cummings

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At the same time, Lalor said pilots wishing to purchase the airline have not, to date, presented any proposal to take over the national carrier.
Government has, since mid-January, been having discussions with the Trinidadian-owned Caribbean Airlines for the sale of the airline.


"I have not received anything from the pilots since the first meeting we had in August," Lalor told attendees at the yesterday's luncheon, which included Bank of Jamaica Governor Brian Wynter and Financial Secretary Dr Wesley Hughes.


Lalor said the pilots, at the August meeting, were given instructions regarding the method of making the submission.


"The pilots have not supplied any plans that I know of," he said, adding that they met with the prime minister last week where they were asked to present funding for the purchase.


Since Government announced its intention to divest the airline, there has been a lobby for the Air Jamaica staff, headed by pilots affiliated to the Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA), in order to retain local ownership.


But Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in an address to Parliament Tuesday, warned that any entity wishing to purchase the airline with borrowed money should forget the idea.


"I would advise them sincerely, don't go there. If you are not able to get in on the basis of equity, where you have the cash and you are prepared to invest that cash and put it at risk because you believe that you can make it work, then my advice is don't go there," Golding said.



Golding warned against the assumption that redundancy payments to Air Jamaica workers would be invested in the airline. "...You cannot assume that the workers are going to turn around and invest that money as equity in the airline," Golding said.


"I am not saying that some won't, but I would be very sceptical of any suggestion, or any talk, that a huge portion of that US$25 million is going to be foregone by the workers, and be put in an entity.... It is at great risk, and even to do this, I would not myself accept that that is a business proposition," the prime minister said.

[MdmeX]

Karl - if you were an Air Jamaica employee - would you be willing to invest your redundancy payment as equity in the airline

(I wouldn't)!

[Jawge]

What if they do? then why sell it off? Govt. should just keep it and incur the losses. Ja is not a communist countr, so why should its govt. be in the air line business? Ja would have been better off economically if its govt. had staye away from many projects.

Even hopsitals need to be let go to private owners and the govt. just give out vouchers for the citizens in terms of helath care.

I said cornwall regional is a cash cow but the falmouth hospital is coming on strong too. I didn't know the day would come when Dr.Johntson and myself would be on the same page (or pulse) LOL .

Nuff ah dem sidung inna Ja ah mek money off a bare papa an speculation. Why don't they pump some of that money in real assets/capital that work to turn over a profit.

Mi doner talk still