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Govt. distances self from airline feasibility study
“We challenge KN to provide document” – Dr Luncheon
Government has distanced itself from a feasibility study for a new national airline.
The front cover of the feasibility study which was prepared for the Guyana government for a new national airline.
The Office of the President (OP) in a statement yesterday also denied that the study, conducted by Canada-based Unimac International, was paid for by government.
“The administration rejects the claims absolutely and in its entirety stating the following – at no time has the PPP/C administration used public funds to commission a feasibility study in establishing a national airline in Guyana.”
Last week, a series of full-page advertisements in Kaieteur News said that government paid a hefty sum for a feasibility study on an airline business. That study recommended the construction of a new, upgraded airport so that the Guyana flag carrier could fly directly to any United States port.
The advertisement also said that government recently announced a US$150M project to build a brand new Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and expand the runway.
Yesterday, in its statement, OP said that Cabinet, the highest decision-making body of the executive government, has never been approached and as such, “Cabinet has never issued an approval for the use of public funds for such a study. Furthermore, at no time has the PPP/C administration sought to incorporate a national airline nor to establish such an airline as a national flagship carrier.”
However, Kaieteur News is in possession of a copy of a feasibility study titled “Air Guyana Corporation Business Plan”, which according to the document was prepared “for the Government of Guyana” by Unimac International.
OP insisted in the statement that it is a “ridiculous” claim to say that the announced expansion at CJIA was an effort to obtain a new category from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“The records would show that CJIA had that original category, (and) lost that category because of human capacity constraints and it was not any reconstruction or rehabilitation of the airport that is needed to restore the loss (sic) category.”
The administration said it is “calling on the accusers, Kaieteur News, to produce the evidence, to make public the documents they claim that show that this administration was involved in their ridiculous claims.”
According to the newspaper’s Publisher, Glenn Lall, he is more than willing to provide a copy of the feasibility study to government.
“The Office of the President can as early as today pick up a copy of the study from Kaieteur News’ offices in Saffon Street.”
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