THE sudden passing of Capt Russel Capleton, former pilot with Air Jamaica, came as quite a shock. I don’t think there are enough words to reach out to his family at this time, but they can certainly take comfort knowing that many who never met him are today also grieving. His passing is a great loss to them and also Jamaica.

Capt Capleton did not die in vain. A powerfull voice, trying to save a fading national icon, Air Jamaica, he dared to speak up, and speak out loudly. No matter how much we adore our careers, we cannot become too emotionally attached to an employer. After three decades of service, no doubt there must’ve been great trauma, to have to suddenly sever ties with the company, and then to be treated so shabbily.

I say shame on all who kept most workers in the dark during this difficult transition process. Shame on the PM, for allowing the process to be handled as such. Most Jamaicans agreed that something had to be done about Air Jamaica, a great financial burden on all taxpayers, but I believe the process could’ve been handled much differently. There could’ve been more options, one that was more open to Jamaicans, since technically, Caribbean Airlines didn’t pay cash for Air Jamaica, nor did they take over any debt. In fact, it appears to have been more costly for the Government of Jamaica to divest the airline, considering the huge sums paid out in redundancy.

It’s really unfortunate that many workers didn’t know their fate until days or hours before the deadline of the takeover. An extra month’s notice to workers could have made a significant difference to them, including those who opted to continue on contract. I say shame on all involved. Workers are people too, and they deserve respect, especially after giving so many years of service. The news that staff rehired in MoBay were recently given 24 hours’ notice to provide a Kingston address, since the new airline would no longer be servicing MoBay, was also crude. To deliberately exclude workers from the rehiring process simply because they were vocal and visible about saving Air Jamaica, says a lot. What goes around always comes around, and I predict the regional airline will start struggling as soon as they remove the Air Jamaica brand fully from all its promotional materials.

RIP, Capt Capleton. Perhaps now you will finally find some peace. God bless your grieving family and dear friends during this very difficult time. To the other former pilots and staff left behind in this process, hold your chin up, cherish your family and friends and the many Jamaicans who benefited from your services over the years. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and if its destined that a leaner, revitalised Jamaican airline will come out of all this, one can only say, “Thank you, Capt Capleton, for a job well done!”

P Chin

Canada

chin_p@yahoo.com