Norman Manley airport to be privatised

Plans to privatise the Norman Manley International airport in Kingston are well underway.



This, as cabinet has approved the establishment of a team to manage the privatisation exercise.



The team includes representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Airport Authority of Jamaica, the Development Bank of Jamaica and the finance ministry.



Representatives from the office of the prime minister, the attorney general’s department and the Jamaica Trade and Invest are also included in the team.



The team will engage the services of suitable consultants and will oversee the various processes involved, including soliciting expressions of interest, evaluating submissions and making the appropriate recommendations to cabinet.



Prime Minister Bruce Golding says a statutory framework and operating structure have already been put in place.



Mr. Golding says the decision to privatise the airport was made based on the conventional assumption that the private sector is more efficient at running commercial operations.



He says airports are increasingly seen as enterprises rather than public services.