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Gross waste of public funds at Air J – PNP
Air Jamaica's Chairperson Shirley Williams has admitted to interfering in the timely departure of a flight in order to accommodate a passenger who had been left behind.
Her response comes in the wake of scathing criticism from the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) that there is a gross waste of public funds at the airline.
The criticism stems from reports which surfaced that on June 5, Ms Williams ordered an Air Jamaica flight stopped as it taxied down the runway.
She also allegedly requested that the plane return to the gate for a passenger.
However, what now seems clear is that Ms. Williams blundered in her call.
The PNP raised the issue in a release on Tuesday.
Deputy Opposition Spokesman on Transport Dr. Patrick Harris claimed these instructions were given apparently to accommodate a passenger who was late for his flight.
Plane called back to pick up passenger
The Party said its information is that this passenger was a non-paying one and therefore was not contributing any revenue to the airline's coffers.
Dr. Harris highlighted the costs associated with the incident including refueling the aircraft as well as administrative and managerial expenses.
He said while this may be an isolated incident, it raises serious concerns about the manner in which the airline is being run.
The Party is calling on Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance Don Webhy to provide an explanation and justification for the aircraft turning back and the specific costs incurred by the airline.
Decision made without all the facts - Williams
However, in a tersely worded statement, Air Jamaica's Chairperson Shirley Williams admitted that she gave the instructions, without having all the facts.
Ms Williams said she was informed that a representative of the Inter American Development Bank who was in the island conducting Government business was at the gate to board the flight and the doors had just been closed.
She said based on that information she authorised his boarding.
Ms. Williams said she was subsequently advised that the aircraft was on the taxiway.
The airline chairperson said while Air Jamaica values its customers and makes efforts to accommodate them, the decision would never have been made to return the aircraft for anyone, had the facts been known.
Ms Williams also sought to assure the nation that strict control measures are in place at Air Jamaica to ensure its resources are protected and not wasted.
She said attempts to misrepresent the incident are unfortunate.
Her response comes in the wake of scathing criticism from the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) that there is a gross waste of public funds at the airline.
The criticism stems from reports which surfaced that on June 5, Ms Williams ordered an Air Jamaica flight stopped as it taxied down the runway.
She also allegedly requested that the plane return to the gate for a passenger.
However, what now seems clear is that Ms. Williams blundered in her call.
The PNP raised the issue in a release on Tuesday.
Deputy Opposition Spokesman on Transport Dr. Patrick Harris claimed these instructions were given apparently to accommodate a passenger who was late for his flight.
Plane called back to pick up passenger
The Party said its information is that this passenger was a non-paying one and therefore was not contributing any revenue to the airline's coffers.
Dr. Harris highlighted the costs associated with the incident including refueling the aircraft as well as administrative and managerial expenses.
He said while this may be an isolated incident, it raises serious concerns about the manner in which the airline is being run.
The Party is calling on Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance Don Webhy to provide an explanation and justification for the aircraft turning back and the specific costs incurred by the airline.
Decision made without all the facts - Williams
However, in a tersely worded statement, Air Jamaica's Chairperson Shirley Williams admitted that she gave the instructions, without having all the facts.
Ms Williams said she was informed that a representative of the Inter American Development Bank who was in the island conducting Government business was at the gate to board the flight and the doors had just been closed.
She said based on that information she authorised his boarding.
Ms. Williams said she was subsequently advised that the aircraft was on the taxiway.
The airline chairperson said while Air Jamaica values its customers and makes efforts to accommodate them, the decision would never have been made to return the aircraft for anyone, had the facts been known.
Ms Williams also sought to assure the nation that strict control measures are in place at Air Jamaica to ensure its resources are protected and not wasted.
She said attempts to misrepresent the incident are unfortunate.
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