THE EDITOR, Sir:

Your suggestion about Air Jamaica in Friday's Gleaner editorial, 'Take Air Jamaica out of its misery', is with huge merit. Close it down!

The airline's current deficient leadership is exacerbated by an equally deficient minister, Don Wehby, who has exhibited his ultimate lack of leadership maturity in crafting an insensitive letter to the unions refusing discussions on salary matters. Whether or not Air J is able to adjust salaries, these workers are the ones beaten and abused by previously failed divestment attempts and the ones battling for the airline's survival everyday with limited resources. At least treat them with dignity!

Rotting from the head

Minister Wehby's attempt to manage government by using consultants in various sectors speaks volumes about his lack of knowledge, skills or experience in his leadership team and especially Air Jamaica. As the fish rots from the head, Shirley Williams and her board are taking advice from 'advisers' who themselves have no airline track record. They are the unemployed from the North American and global airline industries for a reason and come to Jamaica dazzling the unknowing with promises and proposals that only they benefit from.

Use of overseas experts

The attrition by voluntary departure of some of Air Jamaica's seasoned senior management ranks since Shirley William's tenure includes a CEO, four vice-presidents in the technical and operations arena and untold numbers of managers and supervisors. The significance of this braindrain is ignored, but Minister Wehby seems to believe this can be replaced by temporary self-serving advisers from outside. Conditions precedent on overseas consultant support agreements often requires that personnel retained by these grantors must be used to perform the audits, analysis and advice that is needed.

Minister Wehby is funnelling public funds to unqualified overseas 'experts' with some whimsical hope of a deep-pocketed airline godfather that does not exist. Each day that passes proves that the ringmasters of this Air Jamaica circus are really the clowns.

Mr Golding, "take Air Jamaica out of its misery". Close it down!

I am, etc.,

JOHN LONG

rulong2@gmail.com

Palm Bay, Florida