Civil Aviation mgmt staff association calls for rollback in transfer of money to Consolidated Fund
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Management Staff Association (MANSA) of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) is today calling for the rollback of a move by the Government to incorporate expected surpluses from the Authority into the Consolidated Fund.
Finance Minister Audley Shaw told Parliament of a plan to move funds from the JCAA to the Consolidated Fund during his 2017/18 budget presentation on March 9.
However, MANSA in a release this afternoon said the step was “potentially destructive and wanton”, and would negate the push to modernise Jamaica’s air navigation infrastructure to meet international safety standards.
The organisation, comprising technical and administrative staff at the JCAA, said the Government’s action violates the Civil Aviation Act which provides for the establishment of a reserve fund to be used for the purposes of the Authority.
MANSA said the move would also lead to greater bureaucracy as the JCAA would now be required to provide weekly and monthly budget estimates to the finance and transport ministries.
MANSA said it wrote to JCAA Chairman Phillip Henriques to express displeasure at Government’s intention.
