Zacca to head divestment of Norman Manley Airport team

BY AL EDWARDS

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

SPECIAL Adviser to the prime minister Christopher Zacca has been appointed by the Government to chair a committee responsible for the divestment of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA).

Minister of Information Daryl Vaz made the announcement at a specially convened meeting at Vale Royale last week for media owners and practitioners. At the end of last year, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced: "We have taken a decision at Cabinet to appoint a team to pursue the privatisation of the Norman Manley International Airport. The method that was used for the Sangster International Airport was a good method and we intend to pursue that."

Zacca began his role as Special Adviser to the prime minister in October 2009. Part of his responsibilities includes the provision of analytical support and co-ordination of major projects, proposals and development strategies working in collaboration with the relevant government agencies.

Speaking with Business Observer from Kingston, Zacca said: "The Cabinet has appointed a special enterprise team which will oversee the divestment of NMIA of which I will serve as chairman. It will be based at the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and will hold its first meeting in two weeks time."

The team comprises: Dennis Morgan, a representative of the Airports Authority; the president of Jampro, Sancia Bennett-Templer (who played an instrumental role in the divestment of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay); a representative from the Solicitor General's Department; Chairman of the DBJ, Joseph M Matalon; a representative of the Ministry of Transport with William Shagoury serving as deputy chairman.

Zacca brings a wealth of experience to this new position, serving as a former CEO of Air Jamaica, past president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and deputy chairman of the Appliance Traders Limited Group of Companies.

He noted that the NMIA had made a marked improvement and the aim is to transform it to a more efficient operation that generates revenues.

"The brief we have been given is to divest NMIA as soon as possible," said Zacca.

Business Observer has learnt that a number of airport operators have already expressed an interest, including one from South America.

A contract relating to the upgrade of NMIA which forms part of a masterplan to increase its capacity to cater for projected air and passenger traffic at an acceptable level of service to the year 2023, went to Keir Construction and is valued at US$161.5 million. The project will be implemented in three phases (1A, 1B and 2).

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COMMENTS (7)

Patches Clarke
3/11/2010

This must be a really bad joke. I mean seriously guys! Let me get this right. He was Air J's CEO and your plan is to use his experience in running AIr J to divest the airport?
Running an airline is nothing like running an airport. I mean seriously look at the position AIr J is in now. Why don't we hire somebody that has experience in divesting airports and have that person head up this project?
Also i'd love to know how much he's getting paid for this and if he's on the same payment plan like the guy that was put in to divest the sugar industry.

3/10/2010

I am happy that NMIA will not be sold and instead the JLP will follow the lead of the PNP by focusing on a long-term operational lease that removes the burden of managing the airport while still retaining ownership (yes, the PNP actually did some things right).
Many municipalities in the USA are looking at the same options for highways, airports and other entities so it is wise of the PM to make this move.
I just hope that more of the state entities will get the same treatment instead of being sold off for a one-time gain.
Long-term leases are the smart way to go, especially in a recession. The Port of Kingston is a natural one to be leased, not sold.

James Ozermann
3/10/2010

My question is this...when we have independence day whether this year or in ten years from now, whose flag are we going to raise?

Christopher Peart
3/10/2010

I cannot believe what I'm reading about Jamaica outsourcing NMIA to a South American country. Now when NMIA get outsource all the money will leave the country and make the island more in debt, because people are going to get undermined. I think we need to bring in fresh minded people back to Jamaica to run entire thing, because our current government is bunch of ass holes that only looking out for themselves and friends. What IMF say we need to divested our Air port too. All we have in government is all sellouts.

Hope Alive
3/10/2010

Is the airport a loss making entity?

3/10/2010

Is there anything that is going to be left for posterity? Where is the vision? Why isnt the USA divesting all their assets? Why do poor countries sell everything they have? The answer: poor leadership dressed in jacket and tie exuberating their verbosities thinking we dont understand what they saying or doing.

JA Cynic
3/10/2010

The Chinese should be the front runners: they are fixing the strip from Harbour View round-a-bout; interested in the Kingston wharves; financially assisting in the building of our foreign affairs HQ on the waterfront; eyeing the Chinatown concept for Kingston etc. etc.
Mr Zacca would do well in getting Rosetta Stone in Mandurin to ensure that he is up to the task.
JA Cynic

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Zacca to head divestment of Norman Manley Airport team