Major General Saunders to chair Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority
Published:Saturday | June 22, 2024 | 12:10 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Retired Chief of Defence Staff Major General Stewart Saunders is to be appointed chairman of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) following the sudden resignation of Col Oscar Derby.
Two board directors, Edward Miller and Ian Murray, also tendered their resignation, effective June 30.
Derby and Miller, both respected aviation experts, joined the JCAA board in January this year, shortly after Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz was appointed.
The minister confirmed the resignations in a letter to members of the board on Wednesday, advising of his intention to take the matter to Cabinet on Monday for approval of the new chairman’s appointment.
“It is intended to have the new appointments in place for Monday, July 1, 2024,” he stated in the letter which was seen by The Gleaner.
Members of the aviation industry who have asked not to be named told The Gleaner that top management at the JCAA does not like members of the board “interfering”, although they have more knowledge in aviation.
“Nothing is happening for aviation, and that has been the case for many years. To see Derby and Miller resigning in less than a year is troubling,” said an expert in the industry, who noted that the outgoing chairman is critical to the sector.