We are told that United States President Barak Obama has decided that travel restrictions between the United States (US) and Cuba are to be lifted. This is to be done partially, in that no direct scheduled flights between the US and Cuba are to be allowed.

This means to us that our support for Barak Obama is about to pay off big time. What this means is that Jamaica, which has a special relationship with Cuba, forged by Michael Manley and reinforced by every prime minister since - indeed Bruce Golding's first major foreign excursion was to that country - can act as the transit country.

The US State Department has estimated that some 500,000 Americans will visit Cuba each year, or in simpler terms, approximately 1,500 each day. Calculating this in simpler terms: it will require some six large Airbuses each day, at a 300-seat capacity for each one!

Increased stopovers

The necessary increased stop-overs would result in a bonanza for our hoteliers; tour operators would reap a fortune. Air Jamaica would not then be sold, our Miami hub would be reopened, and Air Jamaica staff would be retained and rehired in some instances, and expanded.

We cannot delay, for The Bahamas is already gearing up, as are the charter tour operators intent on seeking loopholes in the law to allow them to fly directly from Miami.

These actions now require the Budget being recast. The funding of our promotion tourism must be drastically expanded. Our foreign ministry must act quickly to signal our intentions. The tourism ministry must reinvent itself. indeed, the Office of the Prime Minister must set our agenda at the Summit of the Americas, so as to propel the new reality, even if it appears selfish in not seeking other expansions for Cuba at this time.

I am, etc.,

JEPHTHAH FORD

jephthahford@hotmail.com

Kingston 19