The Rev Merrick 'Al' Miller (left) greets Kathy Nobles, wife of Bruce Nobles (second left), president and CEO of Air Jamaica, at the airline's 40th anniversary church service at Fellowship Tabernacle in St Andrew yesterday. Sharing in the pleasantries is their daughter Grace. Another service was held in St James. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A clergyman has thrown his full support behind the nation's ailing national airline, saying Jamaica needed to preserve a piece of its heritage.

"We want to congratulate our national airline as they continue to press on despite the uncertainty of the future," the Rev Justin Nembhard told his congregation at the St James Parish Church in Montego Bay during Air Jamaica's 40th anniversary celebrations yesterday.

"We do not pretend like we don't know that reviews are being done each day concerning the operations of the airline. We do not pretend that plans are (not) being made even for its divestment."

He said despite the plans to sell the national carrier, members of staff should continue to provide the excellent service that people around the world have grown to love and appreciate.

Air Jamaica has provided airlift for the last 40 years and is critical to the island's tourism industry. The airline has also become a household name with the Jamaican diaspora and has been instrumental in facilitating commerce.

Massive losses

However, the national carrier has bled more than US$1 billion over the last decade. The Government has said that Air Jamaica must refocus its efforts and optimise resources to markets where it can have a competitive advantage.

Last week, Don Wehby, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, announced that the privatisation of the airline had been pushed back to June.

He, however, said there is an indicative offer from an airline group and that he expects progress on the negotiations at a meeting set for mid-April.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com