A member of the Jamaica diaspora advisory board has shot down suggestions of a boycott of Caribbean Airlines should the Trinidad based company ink a deal with the government. The looming deal is a blow to Air Jamaica workers still trying to shore up support for their bid to acquire the national carrier. It's a statement those clamouring for Air Jamaica to remain in local hands would love to hear but behind his national pride, Marlon Hill sees the Lovebird as more of an albatross; one the government should free itself of. And though he would love to see the airline remain in local hands, he has stated his respect for the negotiations the government is now conducting with Caribbean Airlines. It's a blow to NWU vice president Granville Valentine who in an interview with CVM in February said he would be calling on the diaspora for a boycott of Caribbean Airlines should the deal go through.
But there will be no boycott, at least not from the southern USA board member of the Jamaica diaspora advisory board. And he won’t be encouraging other Jamaicans living abroad to boycott either. However, Granville Valentine, the Airline Pilots Association and Air Jamaica workers would clearly not see their efforts as a distraction. Air Jamaica has given a tentative April 12 timeline for a deal with Trinidad’s Caribbean Airlines, but the PNP has been questioning aspects of the arrangement announced by Bruce Nobles in a recent staff memorandum. Transport spokesman Robert Pickersgill wants to know for example who would be the substantive owner of the new entity to which staff will be employed on fixed term contracts. CVM news understands though that discussions are far-advanced to meet the April 12 timeline.