International News

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says a record number of Canadians are expected to visit the nation during the upcoming winter tourist season.

"Canada is our fastest growing market," Bartlett said. "Two years ago, the Canadian market was providing around 150,000 Canadian stopover visitors and, for this year, we're looking at close to 300,000, which represents a 28 per cent increase over last year."

Bartlett was speaking during a recent visit to Canada to thank travel partners for helping to make Canada the fastest growing market for Jamaica. He met with travel agents, airline officials and tour operators in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg, which have shown strong growth in recent times.

Jamaica's national airline, Air Jamaica, has been sold to an investment partnership with offices in the United States and Singapore, Share has learned.

The new majority owners are reported to be private equity fund, Indigo Partners LLC and private investment firm, Oaktree Capital Management LLC, the major investors in the low-cost carrier, Spirit Airlines. It has also been reported that the name of the airline would be changed to Spirit of Jamaica.

In its efforts to privatize Air Jamaica, the Jamaican government has been searching for a buyer for sometime. Caribbean Airlines, formerly BWIA, which is based in Trinidad and Tobago, is said to have been the other serious bidder for Air Jamaica but lost out to the owners of Spirit.

Jamaica's national airline, Air Jamaica, has been sold to an investment partnership with offices in the United States and Singapore, Share has learned.

The new majority owners are reported to be private equity fund, Indigo Partners LLC and private investment firm, Oaktree Capital Management LLC, the major investors in the low-cost carrier, Spirit Airlines. It has also been reported that the name of the airline would be changed to Spirit of Jamaica.

In its efforts to privatize Air Jamaica, the Jamaican government has been searching for a buyer for sometime. Caribbean Airlines, formerly BWIA, which is based in Trinidad and Tobago, is said to have been the other serious bidder for Air Jamaica but lost out to the owners of Spirit.

By RON FANFAIR

Antiguans and Barbudans have given the United Progressive Party (UPP) and its leader, Baldwin Spencer, another five-year mandate to govern the twin-island nation.

The party secured nine seats, which is three less than it captured in the 2004 elections while its main rival, the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), increased its seat total from four to seven in the 17-seat legislature. Trevor Walker, whose Barbuda People's Movement is closely aligned with the ALP, retained his seat on the island that forms part of the state of Antigua & Barbuda.