Caribbean Report 21-01-1993

Abstract

Jamaica’s Air Traffic Controllers return to work after agreeing to abide by an order by the country’s Industrial Dispute Tribunal, but the tourism authorities there seek to repair the damage done by the strike in which more than 60 Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job over a pay dispute with government. Patrick Stern – Senior Advisor to the Air Controllers presents the case of the dissatisfied air controllers - anchor Debbie Ransome reports. Ray Barret - Chairman of the Jamaican Tourist Board describes how the strike has created economic losses and affected the Jamaican tourism industry at its peak of the winter tourism season. Barbados is concerned about the future of air access from Sweden and Canada provided by BWIA - the Trinidad airline plans to suspend the Barbados to Stockholm route with possible changes on flights to Toronto. In an interview with correspondent Sandra Baptiste - Minister of Tourism Wesley Winfield Hall believes that this could only add to problems caused by other cancelled routes. BWIA’s Managing Director – Ian Bertrand states that it was no longer feasible for BWIA to continue its Stockholm to Barbados route because of the devaluation of the Swedish currency and the recession. However the airline remains committed to continuing its Toronto Barbados flights for the winter season - correspondent Sandra Baptiste reports. Caribbean diplomats in D.C. have been trying to get the region’s agenda before President Bill Clinton’s transition team regarding the NAFTA and an enhanced Caribbean Basin Initiative. Senior Regional diplomats suggests that the Caribbean needs to keep its separate representatives in Washington D.C. Jamaica’s ambassador Richard L. Bernal feels that having more CARICOM representatives in D.C. especially - increases the Caribbean’s advantage of providing multiple opportunities and spokespersons to represent the foreign policy issues of the Caribbean region in D.C. though it may not always prove cost effective. Caribbean and other countries which offer “flags of convenience” to the shipping industry are being brought into the spotlight to defend the integrity of the service they offer. This comes in the wake of the recent disaster in Britain’s Shetland Islands involving a Liberian registered tanker. One of the main issues surrounding the grounding of the tanker which eventually spilled its cargo of oil was weather the ship and its crew was up to standards set by the International Maritime organization – Michael Gray shipping expert and writer for the Trade paper (Lloyd’s List International) and Frank Wellnitz, President of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) are interviewed by Debbie Ransome. The West Indies go into the 4th Test against Australia this Saturday bolstered by their recent victory in the World Series Cup. Commentator and correspondent Tony Cozier comments that it is clear that the current team has come of age.

Description

Table of Contents

Headlines with anchor Debbie Ransome – (00:00-00:28).
1. Jamaica’s Air Traffic Controllers return to work after agreeing to abide by an order by the country’s Industrial Dispute Tribunal, but the tourism authorities there seek to repair the damage done by the strike in which more than 60 Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job over a pay dispute with government - (00:29-05:02).
2. Barbados is concerned about the future of air access from Sweden and Canada provided by BWIA - the Trinidad airline plans to suspend the Barbados to Stockholm route with possible changes on flights to Toronto – (05:03 -06:50).
3. Caribbean diplomats in D.C. have been trying to get the region’s agenda before President Bill Clinton’s transition team regarding the NAFTA and an enhanced Caribbean Basin Initiative – (06:51-10:22).
4. Caribbean and other countries which offer “flags of convenience” to the shipping industry are being brought into the spotlight to defend the integrity of the service they offer. This comes in the wake of the recent disaster in Britain’s Shetland islands involving a Liberian registered tanker - (10:23 -13:30).
5. The West Indies go into the 4th Test against Australia this Saturday bolstered by their recent victory in the World Series Cup - (13:31-14:54).

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