THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) had added its voice to the controversy surrounding the renaming of the Ogle International Airport, stating that government has to take into consideration the “many competition issues that surround the management and regulation” of the airport.President David Granger last year expressed his desire to rename the airport in honour of the Guyana’s first Minister of Communications, Shipping and Aviation, the late Eugene Correia.

However, this suggestion by the President has been met with much resistance from some stakeholders at the airport, who believe that the President’s suggestion is unfair.

In December of last year, nine of ten operators at the airport formed the National Air Transport Association (NATA) and had strongly objected to the renaming. The group believed that the name gives the Trans Guyana Company a marketing advantage as the Correia name is linked to their operation. Trans Guyana was the only operator not part of the association.

However, attention was once again shifted to this issue after the President, on his weekly television show “The Public Interest,” expressed that the objections to the renaming reflected small-mindedness on the part of the operators.

This prompted a response from Captain Gerry Gouveia, Managing Director of Roraima Airways – which operates out of Ogle – who stated on popular social media site, Facebook, that “consultative democracy [was] out the window”.

“Consultative Democracy out the window!!! There are 10 competitive companies at Ogle : 9 said no, one said yes because it’s their NAME and family. How fair it that?” Gouveia wrote in his Facebook post.

He went on to state that President Granger was “insulting the intelligence of the majority of the Aircraft operators” and that he (Gouveia) was baffled by the Head of State’s insistence and determination to rename the airport against the wishes of the majority.

And more recently, the PSC in a statement issued yesterday, urged the Government to carefully consider the views of the majority of operators at Ogle Airport in the interest of all concerned and to complete the promised audit and review.

According to the PSC, the renaming of the airport in favour of a former public official of the same name, as that of the Chairman of the Ogle Airport Inc. “will add to the already filled vessel of complaints regarding anti-competitive behavior of the Board of Ogle Airport Inc. (one and the same, with a company operating at the Airport in direct competition with nine (9) other operators.)”

“These operators publicly and privately expressed their opposition and dissatisfaction with the re-naming of the airport. We urge the Government to consider carefully the views of the majority of operators at Ogle Airport in the interest of all concerned and to complete the promised audit and review” the statement said. (Ravin Singh)