Luncheon ‘completely unaware’ of study for national airline

Government’s chief spokesperson, Dr Roger Luncheon, yesterday said that he was “totally unaware” that the government had commissioned a study to determine the feasibility of setting up a national airline.

A series of paid advertisements in the Kaieteur News last week claimed that the government had paid for a study that was conducted by UNIMAC out of Canada.

Dr Luncheon said that the advertisements were brought to his attention and as far as the Office of the President was concerned, there was no study.
“I could without any hesitation say I am totally unaware.”

Dr. Luncheon said that the Office of the President is not responsible for civil aviation.

“Indeed a study could have been done by the civil aviation Ministry.” Dr Luncheon said that he would have to await the results of his “investigation.”
In the Kaieteur News advertisements, it was claimed that the government ordered that a company called Air Guyana be incorporated, but that was subjected to a legal challenged by an aviation company that uses the said name.

Further, it was claimed that under the Bharrat Jagdeo government, UNIMAC out of Canada – under the names Leon Hui and Francis Chung Ko – was paid a hefty sum to conduct the feasibility study. The study, the advertisement stated, spoke about an airline that would be the sole designated national carrier of Guyana.

It was further claimed that the study stated that for a national airline to be set up there would be the need for a Category 1 Airport and that shortly before President Jagdeo left office it was revealed that the government had signed a US$138 million secret deal to build a new airport at Timehri.

While that secret deal was being negotiated, the new charter service, EZjet, began flying to Guyana and the purported owner, Sonny Ramdeo, said the company wanted to become the national flag carrier of Guyana, the advertisement stated.

In the final advertisement on Sunday, it was asked whether the administration under Bharrat Jagdeo being truthful when it initiated the new airport project and whether Minister Benn was really being honest when he said that a Chinese Vice Premier was passing through the Caribbean, waving billions of dollars and Guyana had to grab on to some to build a new airport.

The advertisement further stated that it was revealed that Ms. Rosalinda Rasul is the Country Manager of the new charter service EZjet.
Just prior to this, Rasul, the advertisement stated, was the Personal Executive Assistant to the CEO of the Sanata Complex, owned by Dr Ranjisinghi (Bobby) Ramroop, the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The advertisements ended with the question of whether the Guyanese people were being plunged into the massive debt of US$150 million, the second largest investment in Guyana, for their benefit or whether the investment is to enrich a specific clique.