Govt intervenes in dispute at Ogle Airport

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 November 2015, 13:47 by GxMedia

The Guyana government has intervened in the ongoing controversy between the overwhelming majority of domestic airlines and the management of the Ogle Airport Inc.

While Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has said the dispute is a private matter and that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) would be concerned only with regulatory issues, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson has asked the National Air Transport Association (NATA) and OAI to submit all related documents.

In a statement issued by the Ministry, Patterson said after the documents and the situation have been analysed he would make recommendations to President David Granger.

“We need to come to a practicable solution. The two groups will put forward their necessary documentations and objections. I will review same, and make a submission to His Excellency President David Granger. I am hopeful it will be something that both parties can work with for the benefit for the aviation sector,” Patterson was quoted as saying.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry did not refer to the OAI but to separate meetings with the “Correia Group” and NATA.

NATA has charged that the Correias and their allies have been leveraging their administrative influence in OAI to the benefit of their carrier, Trans Guyana Aviation, and Caribbean Aviation Maintenance System (CAMS) which services and repairs aircraft and supplies aviation fuel. OAI’s top brass have rejected this claim.

Patterson held discussions with NATA on Wednesday, November 18 and Correia Group on November 19, 2015 at his Wight’s Lane office where efforts to broker a compromise were made.

The deal requires parties are required by submit to the Minister the Aticles of Incorporation of all operators at the Ogle International Airport, a copy of the Lease between the Guyana government and OAI, Aircraft Owners Association Inc. original documentation, copies of lease agreements for all lessees, a Cabinet decision issued, which was presented by former Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, and a summation pointing out the difference in requirements and operational procedures between Ogle Airport Inc. and OIA.

The two parties in the dispute  have been asked by Minister Patterson to refrain from making public pronouncements until the issues/differences are resolved.