Lenox Shuman resigns as Govt advisor, cites conflict of interest

…set to launch El’Dorado Airlines in August

Amid mounting calls for a Guyanese airline to be established, El’Dorado Airlines Incorporated is gearing up to serve the local market from August 20, 2024.
This investment was announced by Lenox Shuman, who has resigned as Aviation Advisor to the Government of Guyana in order to focus on this venture. He tendered his resignation to President Dr Irfaan Ali in a letter seen by this publication on Friday, and he has cited conflict of interest as the reason for his resignation, which became effective from January 9, 2024.
This investment, Shuman added, comes amid several clarion calls by the Head of State and travellers for the establishment of a Guyanese airline.
“This resignation is being effected to facilitate me undertaking establishing a Guyanese Airline – El’Dorado Airlines Inc, – and my continued role as Aviation Advisor would put me in a position of conflict of interest…I avail myself to assisting the Government in any capacity you see fit for the continued development of Guyana,” Shuman penned.
Guyana’s attractiveness as an investment destination has stoked the interest of airlines around the world to operate flights here. Such destinations include Qatar, Ghana, and even South Africa.
This is coupled with the growing passenger traffic recorded in recent years.
Passenger movement at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) had seen 729,680 passengers being processed for 2023. This represented an increase of 11 per cent over the 657,249 passengers processed in 2022.
Guyana had, as far back as in 2018, signed an air services agreement with Ghana wherein was initiated the process of facilitating direct flights between Guyana and Ghana. The agreement was signed after the hosting of the third African Diaspora Meeting, where an assessment had found that it usually takes more than 38 hours to fly from a Caribbean country to Africa.
An air services agreement had also been signed with Qatar in 2019. That agreement had permitted Qatar’s national carrier, Qatar Airways, to operate any number of passenger and cargo flights, and enter into cooperation between the carriers concerned. It had been reported at the time that Qatar Airways would be given permission to have an operation centre in Guyana to fly to any country in the Region and other regions as well.
This potential link would open a route for passengers wishing to head to Asia, or to destinations in Africa. Additionally, it had been reported that a Qatar central hub would open up massive connectivity opportunities for the citizens of Guyana.
Meanwhile, an agreement was inked between Guyana and Saudi Arabia in 2022, to promote and facilitate the expansion of international air services opportunities between the two countries. Presently, there is no direct flight operating between the two countries. With the new document, airlines can now ply the route, thereby widening connections, trade and economic growth.
There have also been talks about Ethiopian Airlines flying the Guyana route on a scheduled basis. It was also announced earlier last year that the Government is looking to expand flight options to Europe through the Netherlands by working to get the flagship carrier of the Netherlands – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – to operate direct flights here. (G12)