The island’s air traffic controllers say they will no longer work overtime.

President of the Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association, Kurt Solomon says the decision was taken last year, but is now being put into effect because the government continues to ignore numerous requests to discuss outstanding overtime payments owed to controllers.

Solomon says the Association is also concerned about the failure of the government to address the shortage of certified air traffic controllers.

Instead, Solomon says focus is being placed on issues that do not allow air controllers to keep Jamaica’s air space safe.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby says the action of the air traffic controllers will not affect the safety of the country’s air space.

He says the action of the controllers is not a surprise as it was a decision they took from as far back as January 2009.