Expressions of interest submitted for executive lounge, duty-free shops in CJIA departures terminal

The deadline for submissions of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the executive lounge and duty-free concession shops in the departures terminal of the newly expanded Cheddi Jagan International Airport was yesterday and over 16 submissions were received.

It is unclear how many persons submitted EoIs for the duty-free concessions in the departures area. However, Director of Operations for Roraima Airways Learie Barclay told the Stabroek News that only three were submitted for the executive lounge. Roraima currently operates the Executive Lounge and has been doing so since 2005.

Barclay, who was present at the opening of the bid boxes, said that the three were his company, and Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and El Dorado, both from Trinidad and Tobago.

This newspaper tried contacting Chief Executive Officer of the CJIA Corporation Ramesh Ghir for comment but repeated efforts were futile. 

The CJIA had released the notice for EOIs on April 2nd, 2019 and a site visit was facilitated to interested persons on April 16th.

“The objective of this EoI is to solicit proposals from Interested Concessionaires for the Operation of a Duty Free Concession in the Departures Terminal of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The selected Concessionaire will enter into a contract for a period of three (3) years,” the advertisement had stated.

The opening and evaluation of EoIs comes on the heels of concerns raised by locals over the award by the CJIA of duty-free shops in the arrivals lounge to three foreign-owned companies.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that several local firms with operations at the CJIA had met with Minister of Public Infra-structure David Patterson the previous Monday and expressed their concern about the tendering process for duty-free shops at the airport.

“We understand that ANSA McAL, TWEE [both of Trinidad and Tobago] and Kings Enterprises, of Suriname, have been awarded duty shops in the arrivals [lounge] by the CJIA. Although Banks and DDL had tendered, these local companies seem to have been sidelined,” a source told this newspaper.

“What are you saying to your country when you choose foreign companies with foreign products to operate at your airport over your locals? Do you think that Banks or DDL could have a space in Trinidad and Tobago over T&T companies? Are you crazy?” the source questioned.

Representatives of ANSA and Kings have said that their concessions were awarded through a fair process and while they were granted the tenders by the CJIA, they still have to receive clearance from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to complete those agreements.

“We went to tender and won the award. We are still to get the licensing and so on from the customs end but this is a tender we won and I can show you the documents,” ANSA McAL Country Manager Beverly Harper had told Stabroek News when contacted.

Harper said that her company had bid previously to provide the same service in the arrivals lounge but that tender process was scrapped last year. She said the company was invited again to bid and was notified by CJIA that it had met all of the requirements but would be granted full approval pending the GRA’s customs clearance.

The Manager of Kings Enterprises in Guyana, Amerit Nejal, lamented that while his company has also been given approval to operate by the CJIA, it has been waiting on the GRA for many months to finalise the operations.

In response to the article, the CJIA Corporation stated that it followed a transparent process and made conditional awards.

“The Arrivals Duty-Free Concession was publicly advertised and a conditional award was made to the most responsive bidders. No new contract was entered into for Arrivals Duty-Free Concession,” the corporation said in a statement.

“CJIAC values its relationship with its existing stakeholders and will continue to work with them to ensure that all new awards are done in an impartial and transparent manner,” the statement added.

It went on to point out that over the past few years the corporation has been publicly advertising and inviting Expressions of Interest for the various concessions available at the airport. “This policy decision allows for qualifying individuals and companies to be awarded concessions in a fair, equitable and transparent manner. Recently, the airport engaged in a public process for Expressions of Interest for Arrivals Duty-Free Concession; Departures Duty-Free Concession; Advertising Concession; Provision of Insurance Services; Provision of Legal Services; Ground Handling Concessions; Executive Lounge Concession and Office Rental Concession,” the statement said.

 “Similar to the public tendering process, the qualifying criteria for the various concessions are clearly spelled out in the Expression of Interest document. Once these Expressions of Interest are received, they are evaluated and a decision taken based on the criteria set out in the document,” it added.

Further, the corporation noted that it has “an obligation to provide a variety of services for airport users and we remain committed to promoting and supporting our local companies and manufacturers.”

“As in any public solicitation process, we are committed to honouring all the conditions set out in the evaluation and award process. Companies and Bidders that require assistance/clarification on the tendering process are encouraged to reach out to the management of the airport for guidance and assistance,” the statement said.

Today, EoIs will be opened at 8 am for the rental of office spaces at the new airport and on the 14th May for Fixed Based Operation (FBO) Concessions.