Jamaica Suspends Aviation Fees for Haiti Relief

The Government has suspended all aviation fees associated with Haiti relief until further notice.
At a press conference at Jamaica House in Kingston on January 15, Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, said that Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding had approved this measure as airports on the island of Hispaniola were operating at capacity.
“We have gone further to indicate that all of those planes that are stationary in Haiti now…we are inviting them to come to Jamaica and use our facilities to park them until such time as they are needed again as that will relieve congestion on the tarmac,” Minister Vaz said.
“We have gone further, we have waived all navigation and landing fees to all humanitarian aid aircraft to allow them not only to come and stay here while the recovery effort takes place until such time as they are needed but also to indicate to them that we can offer re-fuelling facilities here in Jamaica and I think that if that is accepted that can go a far way to easing congestion in Haiti as we speak. We also have offered the Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios St. Ann to restock with potable water. We have offered that to all humanitarian vessels that may be passing en route to or on return from Haiti,” he continued.
Minister Vaz said that the decisions of Government came after a first-hand visit by the Prime Minister to Haiti on January 14 and a meeting with Caricom heads at Jamaica House last night (Jan 14).