DAVIE – The oxford dictionary describes a hijacking as the seizing of a loaded lorry or an aircraft in flight to force it to a different destination.
Even the Webster dictionary has an almost exact definition.
What both dictionaries say is that there was no hijacking of an aircraft at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Sunday evening. Period. Bottom line.
It can not be argued that a number of people were held against their will, not, again, as hostages. For all the information disseminated so far, there is no indication the gunman asked for any compensation for releasing the people he reportedly held at gunpoint.
What is really happening here is that in part because of the paranoia that followed the events of September 2001 and, more recently the incident off the Somali coast, journalists of all whom, Jamaicans at home included, saw this story as a hijacking. More accurately but definitely less dramatic and with little hype, what took place was an attempted hijacking!
The aircraft was not in flight, not a hijacking, no ransoms were asked for so no hostage taking took place either.
in these days when virtually anyone can correct inaccuracies, in many cases by simply going on line, folk need to stop accepting these practices as anything even remotely related to responsible journalism.
So please explain for your friends that no hijacking took place in Jamaica Sunday night Monday morning. Tell them someone reportedly attempted to hijack a plane in Montego Bay.
Winston Barnes
Host – “Open Mic” WAVS 1170AM
Voice your opinion on “Open Mic” with Winston Barnes daily on WAVS 1170AM or listen on-line www.wavs1170am.com
