I have been flying with Air Jamaica every year since the 1960s and during the period 1980-1993, I used the airline at least once per month (about 200 times). In those times, the activity by informal commercial traders was at a peak and lots of 'poor' people benefited from the 50lb and 70lb baggage allowance, not to mention the 50- and 70- pound bags that you could take on the plane with you (just joking). There was lots of business for Air J.

With the downturn in the US economy, especially in the housing market, Jamaica and Air Jamaica especially, can benefit from the vast amounts of products freely available or at giveaway prices, by facilitating the movement of these goods into the island.

In Lee County where I live, over on the west coast of Florida, 2,700 houses per month go into foreclosure. Do you have any idea how much 'stuff' is available for little or nothing? I am not too concerned about the rich and upper middle-class in Jamaica in this scenario. Who I am concerned about are the Jamaicans who can no longer send the remittances but could send a barrel of 'goodies' that they could collect and send, paying about $75 per barrel for freight.

Suggestions for Air Jamaica

(1) Return the luggage allowances to the 50lb and 70lb. Extra piece under 70lb - US$40 for same day delivery and US$30 for next-day delivery.

(2) Offer to air freight goods to Jamaica at US 40 cents per pound but add on other handling charges to be paid in Jamaica. This is what the shipping companies do. Just look at a bill of lading from a shipping company.

(3) Offer some reasonable flight packages especially for ICIs so that they don't mess up the smooth runnings of the 'normal' passengers. These could be early flights out and late flights in and it could be done by going through Miami. Bring back the other planes and concentrate heavily on movement of freight from all over the United States.

I gave Danville Walker a suggestion last Thursday to offer all Jamaicans the opportunity to bring in two barrels duty-free for the next six months. I told him this could mean US$1 billion worth of goods coming in which would not cost the government anything. Assume there are 1.5 million Jamaicans living outside Jamaica and assume only 30 per cent of them would send two barrels per month, Then assume the value of the goods in the barrels averaged US$200. (Include electronics, tools, laptops, food, cameras, the kitchen sink). Here is the formula: 1,500,000 X 30 per cent X 2 X6 X 200 = $1,080,000,000

Possible negatives

Here are some of the negatives you will hear from those against this:-

(a) The Government is going to lose revenue. How much revenue will the government get if none of these new players jump on the bandwagon? Remember this is just 30 per cent of 1.5 million. Some people claim there are 2.6 million Jamaicans living abroad. This does not take into consideration all the unemployed who could make it a business.

(b) Lots of guns and drugs will come in.

They are coming in anyway. But consider this. In order to try to prevent the illegal importation of guns and drugs, set up sorting offices islandwide manned by government workers and other private sector workers being laid off. Each importer to be watched by a customs officer and a member of the Jamaica Constabulary and a security guard, all under cameras manned by other 'new' customs officers who are not afraid to report corruption. Fees in lieu of duty to be charged to cover the expenses created by all this. These to be paid by the importer.

Consider how many poor people could get even food and clothing from friends and relatives abroad.

I am, etc.,

DENNIS DUNN

Aurora Christian Enterprises, Inc,

Alva, Florida

or PO Box 59,

Savanna-la-Mar,

Westmoreland