MINISTER Robeson Benn, the individual with responsibility for aviation, has rubbished suggestions hinted by sections of the media that the Government ought to be implicated in the Puerto Rico arrest of Guyanese-American pilot Khamraj Lall, who had, at time of his arrest, in excess of US$600,000 on his aircraft.

“I want you to separate the Government from the issue and have a dispassionate look at the issues,” Minister Benn told a room full of reporters during a sunset press conference held at his Kingston office.

Benn expressed disappointment that sections of the media had gone at length to tie the Government into the case. This, he said, should not happen, but rather “we need to have more faith in the things we do to build our country.”

The Minister explained that the role of Government in a country is to “facilitate expansion of its economy [and] country.”

“It (role of Govt.) facilitates opportunities for Guyanese business people to develop and grow their country,” he added.

Responding to questions on whether issues arising could taint the image of the Government, his response was: “Allowing for a Guyanese person to set up an airport-facilitating operation for executive travel and medivac, (which) the owner finds himself — at a personal level — in some problem overseas” does not taint the image of the Government.

Since Lall’s arrest in Puerto Rico, the Government has fallen victim to a number of allegations that it had apparently entered into special arrangements with Executive Jet Club — the limited liability company that Lall operated.

Minister Benn clarified those misconceptions by outlining the lifespan of the company in Guyana and the procedures it had followed before entering the market. He said the company had first expressed interest in August 2010 in operating in the Guyana market executive air services for special travel and air ambulance purposes.

“We have never really had this type of facilitation in terms of aircraft service between Guyana and the Region and to North America,” Benn said, adding, “This was a welcome opportunity and a win-win situation for Guyana…and of course for the company.”

He clarified that in December 2011, an application was sent by the company following an entire year of reviews and requests for information. “A Cabinet Paper was presented and, in October 2012, the approval of the lease to allow the construction of the hangar and for the operation of the service was given.”

That hangar, according to Benn, “is being developed as an executive arrangement with facilitation of storage for two or three aircraft.” He, however, notified the press that this hanger has not yet been completed, but a deadline of 2014 yearend had been communicated.

Minister Benn stressed: “All of Executive Jet Club’s LLC flights have taken place in accordance with the established procedures that are applicable for all flights into and out of Guyana.”

Benn reiterated his caution to the media against issuing high levels of misinformation when he hinted thus: “This may seem as somewhat of a surprise if you look at some of the reportage in the newspaper[s].” Such procedures, he added, required clearance from “Customs, Immigration, CANU, and other law enforcement agencies.”

“At no time…was any instruction given to the staff to waive the airport security clearance or procedures with regards to the Executive Jet Club staff,” whether entering or leaving Guyana.

The Aviation Minister, being confident that none of the actions could implicate the Government, said they “will continue to facilitate Guyanese people… lawfully and legally with integrity…in the effort of the struggle to develop our country.”

(Derwayne Wills)