JTB board members insist resignation was voluntary
Posted: 2008-11-18 08:43:17
Members of the board of directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board are insisting that they were not forced to resign.
The JTB board is the latest on a list of boards appointed by the Jamaica Labour Party government to have resigned since it took over last year.
Among the other boards that have resigned, are those of Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation, and The Resort Board.
Yesterday, several members of the JTB board met at the New Kingston offices of the tourism ministry to stress that the resignations were willingly submitted to allow the tourism minister to install a team to deal with the new challenges facing the industry.
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Wayne Cummings, said he and the other members agreed to step down on a recommendation contained in a resolution raised by one person within the group.
McNeill expects detrimental effect
Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Dr Wykeham McNeill says the resignation of the board of directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board will have a detrimental effect on the winter tourist season, which is less than a month away.
Dr McNeill is calling for the Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, to inform the nation of the current state of the tourist industry and the projections and plans for the upcoming tourist season.
Yesterday, a release from the tourism ministry stated that the members of the board decided to resign following discussions about the recently concluded World Travel Market in London and the challenges currently facing the tourism sector.
According to Mr Bartlett the board acknowledged that given the turbulence facing tourism worldwide, it cannot be business as usual and it was evident to them that different strengths were now needed to move Jamaica’s tourism forward.
Dr McNeill believes the JTB board was forced to resign.
He claims the board resigned over a disagreement with a reported intention to hire John Lynch, who up to yesterday chaired the board as its executive chairman.
He says any such move would not be good for the sector.
Posted: 2008-11-18 08:43:17
Members of the board of directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board are insisting that they were not forced to resign.
The JTB board is the latest on a list of boards appointed by the Jamaica Labour Party government to have resigned since it took over last year.
Among the other boards that have resigned, are those of Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation, and The Resort Board.
Yesterday, several members of the JTB board met at the New Kingston offices of the tourism ministry to stress that the resignations were willingly submitted to allow the tourism minister to install a team to deal with the new challenges facing the industry.
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Wayne Cummings, said he and the other members agreed to step down on a recommendation contained in a resolution raised by one person within the group.
McNeill expects detrimental effect
Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Dr Wykeham McNeill says the resignation of the board of directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board will have a detrimental effect on the winter tourist season, which is less than a month away.
Dr McNeill is calling for the Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, to inform the nation of the current state of the tourist industry and the projections and plans for the upcoming tourist season.
Yesterday, a release from the tourism ministry stated that the members of the board decided to resign following discussions about the recently concluded World Travel Market in London and the challenges currently facing the tourism sector.
According to Mr Bartlett the board acknowledged that given the turbulence facing tourism worldwide, it cannot be business as usual and it was evident to them that different strengths were now needed to move Jamaica’s tourism forward.
Dr McNeill believes the JTB board was forced to resign.
He claims the board resigned over a disagreement with a reported intention to hire John Lynch, who up to yesterday chaired the board as its executive chairman.
He says any such move would not be good for the sector.
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