| …show me the evidence- CorreiaLocal operators have been contending that the Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI) is fraught with a monopolistic environment, whereby “a competitor (is) regulating its competitors.” In recent reports appearing in sections of the media,Chairman of the OAI Michael Correia Jr.the Correia group was accused of same.A new association, the National Air Transport Association (NATA) was formed on Wednesday by nine of the ten local aircraft operators at the airport. Vice President of NATA Capt. Gerry Gouveia specifically made this accusation.During a press conference at the Ogle Airport yesterday, Chairman of the OAI,Cheap Jerseys, Michael Correia, Jr sought to dispel this perception. He said that the airport in fact, had a competitive business atmosphere.Noting that this was something emanating from the newly formed National Air Transport Association (NATA),Cheap Jerseys, he said that it was wholly irresponsible to suggest that any single airline had control in this environment.He cited the fact that the airport has two Government operators, three missionary medical operators, five big operators and five (operational) small operators. He also noted that there are four approved maintenance organizations, six approved domestic cargo terminals, two approved commercial fuel operators and four ground handling services.Ogle International Airport has been owned by OAI, a private company,Cheap Jerseys USA, since July 17, 2003 by virtue of a lease by the Lands and Survey Department for 441 acres. The lease is supposed to cover a period of 25 years.Prior to the lease,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap, the airport was owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO). However the privatization was completed under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Air Transport Reform Programme. It had in fact, been recommended in order to deal with the safety concerns at the time.Nicole Correia, of Trans Guyana Airways Ltd. holds a 38.94 percent shareholding in the OAI. Michael Correia himself holds some 6.51 percent of the shares while Christopher Correia of Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS) Ltd holds 14.56 percent. This gives the Correias some 60 per cent of the shares in the airport.Correia defended this. He said that there was an initial call on funds from the shareholders. He stated that the call was not heeded; the other share holders were unwilling to invest further.“Much is being made of the quantity of shares owned by the Correia Group. Where are the facts? Early in the life of OAI, when there was a need for critical cash injection to satisfy the mandatory safety and development (clauses), the Correia Group was left alone to meet the demand.”“All the shareholders at the time had an opportunity to contribute equally. They chose not to. There was no objection then on the part of any of the shareholders to the Correia Group meeting the financial demand for the survival of the airport.”He noted that after these shareholders proved reluctant to put in their money, an agreement was also reached to bring in outside investors. Correia also placed the initial investment into the OAI at some $US4M, though subsequent development far exceeds that.“The Correia Group of Companies owns about 60 per cent of the share holding, but (has) only retained two of the seven seats on the board,” Correia said. “I don’t see how the Correias can exercise that shareholding interest.”Correia did note that the other directors consist of him, Nicole Correia, Anthony Mekdeci, Malcolm Chan-A-Sue,NFL Jerseys China, Mazahar Ally, Ronald Reece and Marcel Gaskin.The Chairman also questioned whether small operators were not in fact being misled by one or two large operators with their own agenda. He reportedly determined this after discussions with the small operators and flat out denied the allegations.“If this is what Gouveia and (Annette) Arjoon-Martins are saying to the President [David Granger],” he said. “Then they have set out to mislead the government at the highest possible level. You may rest assured that I will ensure that the government is properly informed at every level.”Michael Correia was adamant that the structure of the conditional operators’ agreement, the strict regulations of the airport operations manual, and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA),NFL Jerseys Clearance, makes it impossible for anti-competitive behaviour.“This is not a cake shop,” he stated. “This is a highly regulated airport.” |
