Open Letter to Butch Stewart

January 30^th 2010

Mr. Gordon Butch Stewart

Chairman & Founder

Sandals Resorts

4950 Southwest 72nd Avenue,

Miami, FL 33155-5531

 

Dear Mr. Stewart,

Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Wesley Sampson and I am the Air Jamaica pilot who as President of JALPA was unjustly dismissed for exposing the mismanagement, safety issues and nepotism which prevailed in the country and company’s operations in the 1980’s.   

My purpose in writing is to advise you as the primary owner operator and beneficiary of Air Jamaica during the years of my unjust dismissal that you as an individual and the Sandals Resorts were unjustly enriched by my victimization during the period of your management/ownership of the airline, and would have profited from the ongoing victimization of myself, loss of career opportunity, and the resultant human rights denied me and my family.  The matter which was in the Supreme court during the entire period of your tenure was ignored by yourself and your board.

In Sept 2006 the then Prime Minister the Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller via the Attorney General removed the item from before the Supreme Court and referred the matter back to Air Jamaica, which as you know would have accumulated damaged over the period thru 2004, during which you and Sandals would have benefitted and participated as direct and/or as third parties to the victimization and denied justice inflicted by the Supreme Court of Jamaica and the combined leadership of the PNP and JLP upon my person and and in concert for 26 years.

As such I have an existing claim against the Government for $26 Million USD, of which they have been notified and have not contested, the details of the model may be found on line at; www.maydayairjamiaca.com

My proposal for settlement where we both can contribute to the well being of the Airline the industry and it’s workers while assisting the government in their present plan to dispose of the carrier.

Simply put, match the $26 million the government owes me, and take an equity position in exchange, while providing the cash/access to the pilots to operate the Airline, while they seek additional funding in the Diaspora.

The government would hand over the concern for a $1.00, credit the pilots and workers with the money owed me as their purchase price, ($26 Mil USD) and extend a line of credit for the first year’s projected operating capital in exchange for a preferred position so that the taxpayer can begin to recoup some of the debt and from the Airline.

In return an equity position would be granted me and the Jamaican Government would have settled the matter without any direct cost to the people of Jamaica.  I would in return seek to assist you in clearing off many of the other problems where I am able.

I found most instructive, you’re outgoing observations on Christmas Eve of 2004. “We have flown Air Jamaica on its mission to make Jamaica wealthy, to make the tourist industry strong, the economy strong and the nationals proud.  I considered that mission completed and accomplished” unquote.  (JIS Info Service 12 -23-04)

Mr. Stewart the Airline is now reported to have made some money but weak, the nationals are not proud of the state of the airline and in its present proposed sale to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will ultimately weaken our tourist industry.  You had said that the national was quote “the single most important economic weapon held by the government and the islands biggest ambassador” unquote.

You remain uniquely qualified to step forward and resolve these issues for our National carrier, the people of Jamaica as the country cannot lose its single most important economic weapon to outside investors, please help the pilots and workers acquire the airline and let us get to the business of opening and not shutting down routes.

I have copied the Leader of the Opposition the Hon Portia Simpson Miller and am seeking her intervention in the matter and in consultation with yourself as the matter presently is most shameful for those of us in the diasporas, as it is clear that the Airline is under siege.

Please help.

Respectfully,

Wesley Sampson

Open Letter to Hon Portia Simpson-Miller

January 31st 2010

Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller

Leader of the Opposition

89 Old Hope Road,

Kingston 6, Jamaica

 

Dear Mrs. Simpson-Miller,

 

I once again write to you seeking your assistance in the matter of my unjust dismissal by Air Jamaica and as ruled by the IDT in 1991.  Unfortunately I am still a victim of political and judicial evil in our country and myself and the workers of Air Jamaica need your assistance to break the current state of siege in which the industry and carrier finds itself.

 

As you may recall The Supreme Court of Jamaica and in concert with Air Jamaica and the government of Jamaica for 15 years ignored an application on their desk, where the Supreme Court itself had issued an order delaying the hearing until the IDT could produce the records of the case.   Since the government was never forthcoming with the records and Air Jamaica being an entity of theirs, the parties have perpetrated, arguable the highest degree of wickedness and conspiracy to commit evil against an individual worker, in denied and delayed justice in our islands history.

 

It was not until your intervention when you became our seventh Prime Minister, that you referred the matter to the attorney general and had the matter removed from before the courts and referred back to Air Jamaica and myself for settlement as indicated to me by letter of Sept 15 2006 from your office, that the issue moved forward.

 

Enclosed please find a copy of an open letter to Mr. Butch Stewart, the previous owner/operator of Air Jamaica.  In this letter I have made a proposal whereby the workers of Jamaica could acquire the Airline for a $1.00, retain the carrier and provide an actual income steam to the taxpayers to offset their losses over the years, while settling my issue with an equity award as opposed to cash as they have not contested my demand for $26 million USD, as a just settlement.  As you know the airline showed an operating profit sometime last year and notwithstanding has always been profitable albeit mismanaged and for corruption and nepotism’s sake.

 

The worker of Air Jamaica and Jamaica needs your support in the disposal of our most important economic weapon and its potentially deleterious effects on our tourist industry and economy were the controlling interest to be other than Jamaican.

 

Please help us as corruption and complicity has silenced the others on both sides of the aisle.

 

In closing, I wish to publicly speak of your integrity where the matter is concerned. When neither political party nor its members could find the wherewithal to stand up against nepotism and corruption you did and have been doing so.  You have single handedly stood for Justice and Equity for the people of Jamaica and for this I applaud you.  In the day of the swallowing of camels, this also will be in the scales.  Forswearance has a remedy of which I know you are aware.

 

I have never been a member of the JLP or PNP as neither organization has ever managed to deceive me concerning their real intent as history has demonstrated.

So that you have had nothing to gain by standing for the truth, except as truth herself will reward.  Maybe one day I will have the privilege of meeting you and thanking you personally.

 

However let me say that if we had an iota of the caliber of integrity in our politicians as exemplified by you and single handedly in this matter, our country would not be in the state it is in today.  

 

The tourist industry, the aviation industry and workers of Jamaica elite and nominal need your help, as all others have abandoned them and they are without resolve.   Please help.

 

Respectfully

Wesley Sampson

 

 

 

The History

My name is Wesley Sampson, I am the previous president of the Jamaica Airline Pilots Association and am appealing to all concerned Jamaicans in the diaspora to get involved and help us to tackle the corruption and decadence that has seized our country.  The Jamaica that we knew no longer is, and what we have now is clear evidence of our past and current failures for which both of our political parties are equally responsible. I stand as one of the thousands of Jamaicans who have stood for what is righteous and correct for our country and people and have been threatened and victimized by both political parties and have had to flee because of fear of our lives and/or our ability to continue to earn a living wage at home. We have allowed our national birthright to be raped and destroyed by a selfish few and now we are standing idle, while the politicians are threatening to destroy the one remaining national blessing we can leave for our children. The following is a plan to cease the on-going wickedness and victimization of myself and others and to thwart this hand of greed and continuous disregard by the politicians for our well being and our children's heritage. We must have a sense of patriotism, build a nation, with our own national assets and identity and compete in a world market.

My Story...one of thousands

Born in Kingston, attended said college, migrated to the US further studied at the Bernard Baruch School of Business and Public Administration in NY and then upon graduation from Sierra Academy of Aeronautics in Oakland Ca, returned home to fly with Air JM (1978-9)  

While serving my second term as the President of JALPA, and while the JLP was in control of the government and consistent with my duties as the President of the association representing the pilots in salary negotiations and my shared responsibility for the standards and safety of our national airline and the traveling public, I made recommendations to the then management of the airlines and government on a number of issues. The country was at the time under the strangling effects of the IMF, and the Seaga government had fully emasculated the trade unions and eventually even members within the JLP, with notable exceptions.  However not being political it was my responsibility to nonetheless attempt to address some of the shortcomings of the day. 

Insofar as the airline was concerned we were always operating at a current red ink, in any given quarter, when the airplanes were full we were losing money, when we inquired we could not get a proper answer as to the revenue sharing arrangements between the tourist industry and air JM...it seems all the monies ($$) was going to the all inclusive operators.  When we examined some of the maintenance practices we found that there were foggy arrangements between our selves and farmed out operations in Miami, while our hanger, facilities and manpower was idle. It seems we were spending a lot of advt $$in saturated markets and not coordinating with the Tourist board and operators to share this cost and could never get access to a proper audit.  In short Air Jamaica has been subsidizing the tourist industry. When we were finally granted access the contradictions were glaring. We noted where the four 727 Boeing aircraft was sold/leased back to Guiness Peat in Ireland, nothing wrong with that business decision, except that the $$(some 27 mill usd plus) stopped in a Cayman bank.  We were losing interest on these retained earnings and nobody in Air JM could tell us what happened to this interest but we were being told we could not get a salary increase and asked to please return the audited reports to which we were referring. There were inconsistencies too numerous to mention here, ranging from mismanagement to nepotism. One of the most difficult was the issue of parity with expatriates, Jamaican pilots were paid much less than those who they were training and supervising and you worked in a cockpit reminiscent of apartheid practices, while Mandela was still imprisoned, but with the fresh air of Air Jamaica. At that time the intentional hiring practice was to encourage a lighter looking in command profile, with a sprinkling of dark skinned pilots of full blooded african blood. Air Jamaica pilots have on occasion been seen and confused as baggage boys by some travelling members of the public. Nonetheless after investing thousands we would lose our talent as the brain drain continued to affect our resources and politicians and management seemed indifferent to the national effect.

A major problem plaguing the airline and the Jamaican taxpayer was the seizure of our aircraft overseas and the resultant fines for drugs on board.  I personally sat with the management of the airline and presented proof of the corruption notifying Mr. Charles that with the advent of the Airbuses, and containerized shipping we should utilize the detection equipment which was lying idle as clearly dogs were not effective. We could not get a proper answer, while we kept getting smeared in the foreign press as the "ganga bird" and I personally would remove my Air JM badges in airports as our ambassadorship had become shameful. I explained to Mr Charles and the management of air Jamaica that we were not taking on the larger problems of trafficking, however could they help us in seeing to it that the our national resources are not used in this effort by simply implementing the procedures, which would stop large shipments of this nature. On one seizure, I asked the customs officer, since our south bound flight was now canceled and the aircraft would not be available affecting other routes just how much contraband are we discussing, as this was very painful for our small island. He indicated where he was discussing a number of containers on the airbus currently being held, not some passenger who had slipped by security. I apologized and left. It was clear that a group of selfish individuals, who did not care for our country, children or well being was allowed to operate on this magnitude.  On the same day that I was fired the Gleaner company, a pre slavery institution, printed my dismissal in bold red ink and as the headline.  A much smaller article lower down on the said front page featured a convicted smuggler in a united states court claiming that his smuggling partner was The Prime Minister of Jamaica.   

One of the favorite methods the airline management and politicians used to feed at the Air JM trough was to 'lease out' our most productive and lucrative routes to third rate operators in the USA such as Tower Air.  In summary things came to ahead in 1986 when I approached Minster of Transportation Pearnell Charles, in the parking lot below the then offices of Mr Hugh Shearer, The govt's person from the water commission was also present. I inquired as to why Mr Charles and Air Jamaica's management had ignored the several letters which I had written to him personally about the continuous smuggling with our facilities, and problems we were having with Tower Air. We had reported previous incidents of doors coming ajar in flight with our passengers, who purchased to fly on Air JM but ended up on these third rate carriers and were at risk.  Our flight attendants were worried about their own safety while operating their aircraft.

Most recently we had written concerning the 600 passengers (tourist and Jamaicans flying our leased routes, Tower Air and Independence Air on charter) were almost killed overhead Montego bay, in a near miss due to grave pilot error.  Why was Air JM management and his office unable to enforce any sort of standards or accountability on these operators for which they were procedures in place.  We certainly could never /would never transport our passengers in this manner and it was not acceptable.  

In fact the pilot on the Tower Air flight was someone who had previously applied to Air JM for a job but was unable to meet our standards was rejected, and ended up being hired by Tower Air and flying our passengers. I pleaded with the Minister as our tourist industry  was fragile and would suffer if we ever had a mid air collision overhead Montego bay as there was no radar or medical facilities and a pilot has to be able to fly the published procedures to operate jet aircraft here, and that this was more complicated than ganga planes running around the island and needed some attention. In two dimensional terms, what this crew did was to, break a red light, make a u turn and then drive the wrong way up a one way.  These specific words have been subsequently substantiated at the IDT. Our passengers and the lives of hundreds of our visitors were at risk and something had to be done!  Why was the financial tie to Tower Air, on this our most lucrative route now farmed out, so great, that himself and Air Jamaica's management was willing to risk an entire industry, the future of our country and the lives of our citizens and visitors with this carrier, surely they were other carriers/arrangements available in the market. 

I was then informed by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Charles, with Mr. Latouche and others present that quote "Jamaica is a dangerous place to drive at night and I might get shot in my forehead" I informed the Minister that were I seeking security advise I would have consulted with another ministry and left while I still had my life.

Subsequently there was industrial action taken by the pilots and the country was shut down for three days. The Prime Minister Mr. Seaga intervened, we were summoned to vale royal where Mr Seaga inquired as to why Mr Charles had not yet taken care of this problem. Mr Rattray the then Atty General was among those present.  I took it to mean why had I not yet been disposed of.  I was told to try and work with the management, so that I then took the proof of the corruption and presented it to Mr Rennie the then Vice President of Air Jamaica who promised to look into these matters and indicated that he would respond to JALPA over these concerns. Mr Rennie was subsequently murdered in what appeared to have been a robbery or burglary of some kind.  I became very fearful and subsequently decided after a number of events, wherein I lost my house and two farms that I would be safer living in the USA, so I left.

During the dispute and before I left Air Jamaica, the government advised the pilots that a contract which we had been negotiating was now justified, we were now on par, at least our supervisor pilots could now sign a expatriates license giving him permission to operated our aircraft with authority in deed, and our Captains could accept responsibility with dignity. The management of Air Jamaica dismissed me for allegedly making false statements to the public and told the pilots that it was the contract or me.   Since the management of air JM had pre positioned several aircraft at the expense of taxpayers and although the air traffic controllers were willing to participate, I advised the pilots that the confrontation would cost the country too much $$take the contract this was our due, they deserved same and I would go to court, where rather naively I thought Justice would be found and truth revealed.  Mr Hart then Chairman came on pubic television and stated that if I won at the IDT I would be reinstated with full salary and no loss of money.

I won the case at the IDT after 3+ years delay by Air JM their attorneys and the government.  I had to dismiss three lawyers as it seemed they were unable to make the case or otherwise corrupted.  At one point members of the panel of judges were dying as they were being appointed.  It was tragic to see how these seniors who were not aware of where they were or the import of the issues before them were being used by the corrupt to implement this major miscarriage of justice which Air Jamaica's management and the government began to practice against me and by extension the workers and tax payers of Jamaica and our passengers throught the world.  One of the replacement judges for the government, an earlier gentleman who could not follow the proceedings, himself suffered gravely from incontinence and early signs of dementia and had to be excused, finally a full panel was tabled. The preponderance of evidence presented including air traffic control tapes, however did not allow any other verdict as everything I said was examined and substantiated or I could never have won at the IDT!!  Council for Air JM Lloyd Barnett was extremely agitated over losing the case, as the deck was stacked he had the panel he desired, his legal/lodge friends kept dropping the ball and I had to openly dismiss them in court, finish the case myself and still won. He and Air JM then appealed the case to the Jamaica supreme court.  This is not allowed, say in Trinidad as it moots the spirit of the IDT.  Here in JM we need to follow Trinidad's lead in fairness to our workers and amend our constitution. They disregarded my letter advising of Mr Hart's comment, to which I copied Mr. Fennel the then Chairman who also did nothing to stop the injustice, nor did any of his successors. 
The matter was referred to the Jamaica Supreme Court sometime in 1990's and has remained there for close to twenty years and to date has not been adjudicated by them, nor has Air Jamaica or Lloyd Barnett brought to task for using the courts facilities to deny and manipulate Justice.  The motto of our supreme court is 'Delayed Justice is denied Justice'  At what point does this delay become a denial of Justice?  During this period I wrote letters to the previous PM, Mr. Patterson, he also did nothing. The problem was that I was neither a JLP/PNP I was a Jamaican seeking Justice and Equity alongside the truths and rights for myself and my fellow citizens and safety of the visitors to our island which appears to have been a misread on what our government was sworn in to do. Eventually during the interim government, I wrote the then PM Ms Portia Simpson and she kindly, using her offices as PM,  removed the matter from the supreme court and directed me to go Air Jamaica. As good as that was, the fact is that like a great deal of us in the diaspora, do not fell that we are free to visit our shores. I fear for my life that if I were to visit the threats against my life would be carried out, and to date have been seeking an attorney in which I could place such responsibility, requiring that they abstain from their lodge practices while they represent me. However this it seems, is most difficult and as we now see the process continues.

Mr Gordon Butch Stewart acquired and profitable operated the airline during this period. Since in removing the matter, did not reverse the IDT's award then my unjust dismissal would have resulted in the unjust enrichment of Mr Gordon Butch Stewart as owner and primary beneficiary during the period. The sale of Air Jamaica has to be seen in relation to our tourist industry as a cooperative effort in a national strategy to provide employment.  To repatriate this unjust enrichment as a part of operating capital for the workers while maintaining an equity position should mutually benefit himself and the country, I would be willing to assist in any manner I can in resolving some of the issues, while the settlement from the government would not cost the taxpayers as an equity position in exchange for the value of my damages.

There is a dark hand over our country, our struggle cannot be discerned as JLP vs PNP and their seeming differences, that also, but note the PNP's silence on the sale of the airline to this foreign group. Our struggle is with spiritual wickedness which has taken over our family and nation, and which dwells in the highest places of our land, government judiciary and businesses.  The evidence is the state of the nation.  Ask the judiciary, how many of them belong to the Lodges of our country, if I am not a member of Lodge and all the courts and lawyers and politicians are lodge members, just what does this mean for myself and other citizens when we come before you. Or what does it mean if you rank higher than me within lodge what does this have to do with our laws? is the fact that my lawyer a junior lodge member explain his seeming disadvantages? But then I went and got the most senior Lodge lawyer at the bar and he also failed to perform (Bertram McCauley brought form Sierra Leone by Hugh Shearer earlier in our history as atty. gen.)  How can we possible be discussing a Caribbean court of Appeals! Corruption would rotten the very benches! Harriet Tubman indicated where she could have freed more of the slaves, however she had a problem convincing them they were slaves, if only she could , she said, she would have been able to free so much more.  We find it hard to believe that the sons of the slave owners now sit atop of us through the various lodges and secret groups while the crumbs they feed the few adds to the designed deception. Do we understand the deep and dark depths of all these these knights and sirs we have in our land, and in the highest places. What do we have to do with Scottish rites and why must we be subjected to this continued hand of slavery over our country. Do you know their history. If you must,we want to preserve your right to join a lodge..but not at the expense of the rights enshrined in our constitution. These same leaders and businessmen and judiciary have wrecked our country, cant we see its the same people/end result no matter what party, cant we see what they have in common? Those who wish to wait and hope upon the hand of the claw are free to so do, but we the god fearing Jamaicans have a different Lion and have no fear of our tongue being removed by the sea, as we made no such pact with the house of the wicked.  May God have mercy on us all.

Plan of Action
A. Boycott the sale of the airline and notify all potential buyers that unless we agree we will not be using their services.
B. Demand the Airline be sold to the employees at price and conditions as the published offer less 20%, public disclosure of all details.
C. Rectify the victimization of the past President of Air Jamaica Wesley Sampson and any other employee with outstanding issues
D. Register to organize and support the effort to unite, your registration info will be used to send petitions to all concerned. Make a voluntary contribution at registration of $5.00 (USD) per registration to support the cause.

Tactical considerations; Regarding the rectification of C above;

Preamble; The formula for a fair and just settlement is based on loss of earnings and all renumeration for 23 years as senior captain.
Since as a result of the victimization I was forced to sell a 150 acre beef producing facility St Mary, a 30 acre horticultural enterprise in Mavis Bank, this farm had its own water head.  And I had to abandon 77 Acer coffee farm in the foothills of the blue mountains with a river on the property (green River) further I had to sell a townhouse in Woodlands in Kingston, in order to survive. The denial to my family of the benefits of  livelihood and the un-replaceable loss of opportunity for my children's education and their mothers wellbeing, to and the pain and suffering  I personally suffered including having to bar myself in and at night sleeping in my tree for fear of my life and having suffered through all this. Additionally and separate from Air Jamaica victimization is the Supreme Court of Jamaica in conjunction with the Heads of government of both political parties conspiring to deny me my human and civil rights under our constitution and by any international standard of civilization.   All my applications to subsequently earn a living as a pilot depended on swift adjudication of the matters which was adjourned for 20 years on the desk of all concerned while another human being and his offsprings suffered, defending the right of the Jamaican Public and visitors to our island to travel in a safe manner consistent with normal flight safety standards afforded other nations in the hemisphere under the international rules of Aviation.
 
Demand Settlement
It is for these compounded insults and their effects, that I am seeking the following remedy, and since I have always refused to conduct the nations business in secret, I hereby make public the demand for settlement of $1 million united states dollars per year for the 23 years of injustice. These dollars are to be adjusted for the prevailing rate of inflation over the period and adjusted to 2009 dollars.  these funds are to be deposited in a US bank (to be named) marked as tax free and flowing from settlement and damages. Is is assumed that at some level, decency and remorse would be found, and an example set for our children and letters of apology will be issued from Air Jamaica , The Chief Justice of Jamaica and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, so that I can show my children that I did not intentionally deny them what's theirs and am a responsible father, but that they too must walk in the principles of the Wisdom of God and fearlessly, it's our heritage.

Please note as quoted above Mr Gordon Butch Stewart acquired and profitable operated the airline during this period. Since in removing the matter, did not reverse the IDT's award then my unjust dismissal would have resulted in the unjust enrichment of Mr Gordon Butch Stewart as owner and primary beneficiary during the period. The sale of Air Jamaica has to be seen in relation to our tourist industry as a cooperative effort in a national strategy to provide employment.  To repatriate this unjust enrichment as a part of operating capital for the workers while maintaining an equity position should mutually benefit himself and the country, I would be willing to assist in any manner I can in resolving some of the issues, while the settlement from the government would not cost the taxpayers as an equity position in exchange for the value of my damages.


A demand letter to settle will be publicly posted and sent to the Prime Ministers office;

Those in support, please indicate on your private sign up forms when you register if you are a US citizen

Briefing
Many of you on the private email chat responses are asking why does the private questionnaire require you to indicate if you are a US citizen.  First you can sign the general petition without  this data. The petition drive which is targeting 20,000 signatures, from the Miami mkt, which with minimum manning should take a month, (5 people ) in the diaspora, is also seeking to indicate and included concerned USA citizens, as a separate category. The Obama government and the US Federal Aviation Administration, are concerned about US citizens and air safety in the Caribbean and the victimization of pilots who represent their safety overseas is a hinderance to visibility in such cases. Because we expect the list to be vetted, please do not indicate that you are a US citizen if you are not , as we do not anticipate a problem with petition from all of the tourist who visit here in Miami this time of year, they along with non citizens will be a part of the general drive, and where we have the segment we will notify those governments in writing. We need a speedy settlement and have to prepare for the normal non responsiveness of those who are accountable.

Additionally the representation to a US court re; jurisdiction etc, is based on the fact that any US corporate citizen who makes such a purchase, is violating my US civil rights and /or perpetrating the continuance of same failed court et al and ought to have known is our position. We will let the US courts determine this issue.  Thanks for your support, lets try and clean up the little piece of Jamaica that flies and publicly.