Senate Passes Civil Aviation Authority Amendment

In a land where you're supposed to leave your troubles far behind, government leaders are deciding what to do if those troubles come a-calling.

The Jamaican Senate last week passed wide-ranging legislation aimed at beefing up the country's Civil Aviation Authority. It increases penalties for security violations and gives the CAA more power in investigating aviation accidents, according to the Jamaica Observer's internet edition.

The amendment has already passed Jamaica's Lower House. But it's not without its detractors. Some senators said the real problem with Jamaica's CAA is that it's not collecting all the fees owed it.

"On a quick examination (of the Bill) there is nothing relating to failure to pay fees to the Civil Aviation Authority which has been in deficit for some time," Senator Trevor Munroe told the Observer.

That's a big problem. The CAA is running $144 million (Jamaican) in the red this fiscal year (that's about $2.35 million in US currency). At the same time, CAA officials want to spend more than $194 million (Jamaican -- $3.175 million US) on upgrades that include a new radar operator training program and navaid enhancements at the island's two main airports.

In response to Munroe's statement, Burchell Whiteman, leader of government business, said the government is now trying to collect delinquent fees owed several departments "and these [efforts] will continue with some urgency."

FMI: www.jcaa.gov.jm