JAMAICA | Tourism cannot afford an air service lockdown says Senator Allen

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism, Senator Janice Allen is calling on the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Ed Bartlett, MP, to lead the charge on behalf of the Tourism Industry to get the Government to urgently resolve the impasse with the Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs).

In a statement today, Senator Allen said “the Air Traffic Controllers make up a critical sector in the tourism industry and we can’t do without them.  Whatever the matters are they must be addressed with urgency”. She said tourists had to scramble to leave Jamaica this morning and all incoming flights are now cancelled.

She said the Tourism Industry trying to recover from the pandemic cannot now afford any further disruptions.“This Government has consistently shown a lack of regard for workers, but the industry cannot survive without the workers as the big companies alone cannot do it”, she said.

The Opposition Spokeswoman said people wanted open and frank conversation with humility, so their issues can be heard. She added that there was no way Jamaica could add new flights and have more hotel construction, if workers who provide essential services are not trained and their welfare issues taken care of.

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