Cultural feast for visiting aviation experts
Published:Friday | July 2, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
They came to negotiate open skies, but the aviation experts who visited Jamaica this past week got a real taste of the island's rich cultural heritage at a welcome cocktail reception at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall last Sunday night.
Jamaican gizzadas, coconut drops, lush fruits of the soil and sweet meats reared on the country's farms were among the culinary delights that teased the taste buds of delegates who journeyed from over 43 countries to Jamaica for the Conference for Air Service Negotiations.
"Even before I became a government minister, I dreamt that this day would come," declared Minster of Transport and Works Mike Henry in his remarks to the group.
The minister, his team and the Director of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby, succeeded in getting nationals from Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America, and the Caribbean to stand in one room discussing one of the most important issues to the aviation industry.
Already, Lt Col Derby says it is anticipated that the increased airflows of foreign carriers will generate more jobs, as well as wealth in the economy. The civil aviation head went into the meetings seeking open-skies agreements with as many states as possible, to create highways that should see an increase in air commerce within the Jamaican airspace to unprecedented levels.
The Gleaner was there to capture scenes of the welcome reception!