Saving Air Jamaica
Published:Saturday | January 30, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Set a realistic target of an amount that may help in this endeavour.
Make it easy, such as sending a text, to donate towards the goal.
Be open and transparent about these finances.
The Editor, Sir:
The patriotic spirit of Jamaicans is, without question, very strong, especially as it relates to being angry about the sale of our beloved airline. For many of us, it was the highlight of our first trip overseas, and the memory of having the headset blazing reggae music while cruising at 30,000 feet and sipping a cold Red Stripe is unmatched by any other airline.
I, too, take this sale of our airline to a 'foreigner' very personal. It still generates a strong sense of pride each time I look in the skies and see her colours flying by. She represents more than just another airline; she is a piece of home/yard. It is hard not being sentimental, but allow me to indulge, since memories may be all I am left with of the sounds of my Jamaican dialect in the halls of the overseas airport and the cabin of an airline.
Let me propose an option to aid the staff/pilot's association in their attempt to seek financing to retain, not acquire, our Lovebird. It is said that 2.5 million Jamaicans are overseas, and it is assumed that many are be in a position to help. Let's put our money where our heart is. I encourage the association, in partnership with the diaspora, to do the following:
I can still hear the sceptics - it's too late and it won't work. To them I say: instead of talking and sending emails to call Prime Minister Golding telling him not to sell the airline, let us do something.
If one million of the overseas Jamaicans gave an average US$10, the association would have raised US$10 million towards the cause. If after we tried then we failed, we would at least be left with the comfort of trying.
I am, etc.,
KYLE HILLOCK