Shirley Williams, chairman of Air Jamaica board. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

AT LEAST two members of the Air Jamaica board, who were this week asked to resign, are supporting chairman Shirley Williams, despite ongoing speculation that she was involved in a rift with board members.

Businesswoman Marcia Forbes said she was unaware of any kind of discrepancy between her colleagues and Williams.

"I would venture to say that probably everybody on the board fully supports Shirley and the work she has done," Forbes told The Gleaner yesterday.

Forbes continued that although there were times when indivi-duals disagreed with particular points during board meetings, she had never witnessed any confrontations or quarrels.

Piloting in 'bad weather'

Forbes further said Williams was piloting Air Jamaica in a direction that would have benefited the airline.

Forbes

"Air Jamaica is not an easy place to manage. To me, it's like peeling an onion and it has many, many layers and for each layer that you peel, sometimes, as with an onion, your eyes might tear," she said.

Forbes, who said she was on Tuesday informed of the resignation request from the minister with responsibility for Air Jamaica, Don Wehby, noted that she understood why he took the decision.

"There's no disappointment on my part. You give national service and you do what you can, and if the minister decides that he wants to rejig, then that is the minister's prerogative," she said.

Male chauvinism

The other board member backing Williams did not wish to be named. He told The Gleaner that the chairman had provided strong leadership and was doing a good job in a difficult situation.

According to the board member, it appeared Williams was falling victim to persons who were opposed to women serving in some positions.

The Gleaner was not able to make contact with Williams up to press time last night.

It is understood that a new board is to be in place in another few weeks.

On Monday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding told a meeting of the Jamaica Exporters' Association that Air Jamaica had racked up losses of US$170 million (J$12.07 billion), which could further increase this year.