rumflier
20th Oct 2005, 14:25
From today's Gleaner.....
Dennise Williams, Staff Reporter
BUSINESSMAN AND past chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, O.K Melhado, has been appointed chairman of the newly restructured Air Jamaica board of directors while outgoing board chairman Dr. Vincent Lawrence has agreed to remain on the board until December 31.
Additionally, North American airline veteran, Michael Conway, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the cash-strapped airline, effective November 1.
In order to minimise Air Jamaica's burden on the budget, it was further announced that the financial support to the airline is capped at US$30 million (J$1.9 billion) per annum.
Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, announced the changes as well as the other appointees to the board at a press briefing yesterday.
Government resumed control of Air Jamaica last December. Leading the restructuring team was Dr. Lawrence, who stepped down as Executive Chairman. However, he had agreed to remain on the Board until the end of the year to complete certain tasks in which he was integrally involved.
The new Board will serve for the next three years.
Also reappointed from the interim Board are:
Noel Hylton, President & CEO, Port Authority of Jamaica
Derick Latibeaudiere, Governor of the Bank of Jamaica
Senator Noel Sloley, businessman
Millicent Hughes, Accountant General
Paul Pennicook, director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board
Sophia Lowe, student
Dr. Jeffery Meeks, Orthodontist
Rex Nettleford, Vice Chancellor Emeritus, UWI
Horace Reid, businessman
Dr. Davies said he was confident that the combination of persons who comprise the new Board would "carry the airline forward and continue the rebuilding work started under Dr. Lawrence."
The Finance Minister said the new CEO, Mr. Conway, was a highly qualified professional with decades of experience at the senior level in the airline industry.
"Of special significance to us is that Mr. Conway has explicitly indicated that he will be a full time resident of Jamaica," Dr. Davies said.
With a nod to the previous permanent management, Dr. Davies said there could be no question that the Air Jamaica Acquisition Group, led by Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, "firmly established the airline as a reliable, world class operation which stimulated increased visitor traffic to Jamaica."
He said the ultimate goal was a viable and profitable Air Jamaica, of which the nation could be proud.
Dennise Williams, Staff Reporter
BUSINESSMAN AND past chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, O.K Melhado, has been appointed chairman of the newly restructured Air Jamaica board of directors while outgoing board chairman Dr. Vincent Lawrence has agreed to remain on the board until December 31.
Additionally, North American airline veteran, Michael Conway, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the cash-strapped airline, effective November 1.
In order to minimise Air Jamaica's burden on the budget, it was further announced that the financial support to the airline is capped at US$30 million (J$1.9 billion) per annum.
Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, announced the changes as well as the other appointees to the board at a press briefing yesterday.
Government resumed control of Air Jamaica last December. Leading the restructuring team was Dr. Lawrence, who stepped down as Executive Chairman. However, he had agreed to remain on the Board until the end of the year to complete certain tasks in which he was integrally involved.
The new Board will serve for the next three years.
Also reappointed from the interim Board are:
Noel Hylton, President & CEO, Port Authority of Jamaica
Derick Latibeaudiere, Governor of the Bank of Jamaica
Senator Noel Sloley, businessman
Millicent Hughes, Accountant General
Paul Pennicook, director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board
Sophia Lowe, student
Dr. Jeffery Meeks, Orthodontist
Rex Nettleford, Vice Chancellor Emeritus, UWI
Horace Reid, businessman
Dr. Davies said he was confident that the combination of persons who comprise the new Board would "carry the airline forward and continue the rebuilding work started under Dr. Lawrence."
The Finance Minister said the new CEO, Mr. Conway, was a highly qualified professional with decades of experience at the senior level in the airline industry.
"Of special significance to us is that Mr. Conway has explicitly indicated that he will be a full time resident of Jamaica," Dr. Davies said.
With a nod to the previous permanent management, Dr. Davies said there could be no question that the Air Jamaica Acquisition Group, led by Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, "firmly established the airline as a reliable, world class operation which stimulated increased visitor traffic to Jamaica."
He said the ultimate goal was a viable and profitable Air Jamaica, of which the nation could be proud.