Dear Editor,
OVER the past few months, I have noticed that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has woken from their years of slumber, with a strident voice on several issues. Most notably, the DDL/GRA settlement and now, their opposition to the proposed renaming of the Ogle International Airport, as the Eugene F. Correia International Airport. I am pleased that the PSC has done so as it represents an important and critical partner in our economy and driver for national development.However, the PSC has to be very careful lest it opens itself to justifiable attacks that it is very self-serving and cares little about its most important partner in Guyana, the Guyanese people.
It also cannot escape attention that several of the PSC’s leaders have benefited from the largesse of the previous administration with large swathes of prime property below fire-sale price, land at Pradoville 2, acquisition of state properties at below market price etc., while at the same time serving as chairpersons of various state boards. Some may argue that this was a conflict of interest, and maybe the reason for the then muted murmurs and silence from Waterloo Street.
President Granger’s announcement that he proposes to rename the Ogle Airport after Eugene Correia has been criticised by operators out of the Ogle Airport who asked him to reconsider. The PSC has also issued a press release.
From what has been reported, President Granger met with some representatives of the National Air Transport Association, and he formed the opinion that their protestation was based on “small-mindedness, driven by petty-minded persons and maliciousness.”
President Granger is not an intemperate person with a proclivity to launch scathing attacks against individuals, but a bridge-builder and we have to therefore conclude that his characterisation of those opposed to the renaming, in such harsh terms, is grounded in reality and not fiction. Juxtaposed against his views is what is being peddled as an inalienable right of the other operators, as they are the majority stakeholders at Ogle.
No sir! The majority stakeholders in the Ogle Airport are the citizens of Guyana, who are the patrons and they are represented by a duly and democratically elected President. Moreover, it is absolutely disrespectful for a leading player in the PSC and also an operator out of Ogle, Captain Gerry Gouveia, (Roraima Airways) to condescendingly state that President Granger is not a businessman and doesn’t understand branding. In other words, the use of the Correia name would provide an undue advantage.
This is logic based on Capt. Gouveia’s fantasy and not business. Like him, I am businessman equipped with academic and professional accomplishments that challenge this irrationality. Market share is based on your individual brand and each market participant carves out its own niche based on their business plan and focus. Is he saying that the Corriea name would create a marketing windfall to the Correia group? Show me how? Where is the empirical evidence to support this?
Capt. Gouveia is also reported to have stated that the decision to rename the Ogle Airport was solely made by President Granger and makes a mockery of democracy. Where was the good old Captain, when the Timehri Airport was being renamed to the Cheddi Jagan Airport?
To suggest that HE President David A. Granger is the only person engaged in the decision-making is insulting. From the little that I know of the President, he is a listener to people and consults and he would have consulted with his advisors before the pronouncement. To suggest otherwise smacks of pettiness, small-mindedness, personal, maliciousness and very disappointing.
Yours sincerely,
Jerome Khan