No way should an int’l airport be regulated by an operator - Aviation operative on OAI

No way should an int’l airport be regulated by an operator – Aviation operative on OAI

Mar 03, 2018 News

The issues affecting aviation companies operating at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport are piling up.
The operators at that port are complaining about the advantage being taken upon them. They speak of the astronomical rental fee being charged, the disadvantageous distribution of lands and general misuse of state land by one family—the Correias.
Many of these issues seem to be ignored by the government, despite some being in direct violation of the master lease signed between Government and Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI).
OAI is the company that runs the airport. This company is controlled by the Correias—primarily Michael and Nicole Correia.
The Correias also own at least three companies operating out of the Eugene F Correia International Airport. These companies are Trans Guyana Limited, Correia Mining Company and Caribbean Aviation and Maintenance Services.
It is being reported that those companies are given first preference to lands and other services provided by the airport.
An aviation operative insists that the present management and governance structure of the airport is in need of attention as “it is unheard of an international airport being regulated by an operator”.
Operators are complaining that all regulations and facilities are being instituted and erected in favour of the Correias and the many companies it has operating at the airport.
Recently, there have been complaints about OAI using investors’ money to develop a car park for one of the other Correia-controlled companies—CAMS.
OAI is in control of 441 acres of state land which it has been leased for 25 years – extendable for two further periods of 25 years.
The land was leased in 2003 without any public notice. There was no public transparent process, neither was there a public bidding process.
Recently, former government Minister Manzoor Nadir spoke of the generosity of the state in leasing the lands to OAI and contributing to the development of the port. He said that as a result, the nation should be benefiting more.
OAI’s public relations consultant, Kit Nascimento later responded, saying that the state did not invest a penny. He said, “Phase I of the development under the Lease Agreement was successfully completed in 2009, when scheduled passenger operations commenced. Not a penny of state money was invested.”
However, the facts say different.
The Government of Guyana, during the reign of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) expended just about $30M to relocate squatters during phase one of the airport project.
Phase two was financed by a grant of €1.5M from the European Development Fund to the Government of Guyana which was converted into a soft loan to OAI with a generous long term repayment schedule.
The Government also made significant investment in the Air Traffic Control tower to the value of $50M. Further, the government expended $187M to relocate the NCN tower from Sparendaam in order that the airport could be cleared for international flights
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure resurfaced the road from Railway Embankment to Ogle Airport.
All the government services provided, such as the Guyana Fire Service, Air Traffic Control, Customs, Immigration and Police are all funded by the State.
As recent as two weeks ago, the Guyana Energy Agency installed solar panels on the terminal building at the Airport.

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