Unpaid E5.9m govt debt frustrates Canadian company
MBABANE – UNICORPE Aviation Professionals, the company which helped set-up RENAC, says government owes it a sum of E5. million.
Responding to an advert from the Ministry of Public :orks and Transport, the Canadian company was awarded a contract to establish the country’s airline, which is now operational.
It also interviewed and recommended for the appointment of the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation, 4iniso President Dhlamini.
It has been established that UNICORPE’s President, Hassen Alamoudi was part of the team that fought the sei]ure of the .ing’s Jet, McDonnell MD-87, in Canada, over a disputed debt.
It was finally released after government had paid E35 million.
During the purchase of the State’s Jet (Airbus 340-300), UNICORPE Aviation Professionals reportedly played a part in the identification of engine defects in aircraft.
That happened just before the jet was flown to Eswatini as the transaction was complete.
The President of UNICORPE, Hassen
Alamoudi, said government owed his company a sum of E5. million. This is the equivalent of US 32 600.
He said UNICORPE was introduced to the Eswatini team that was in Canada in 2015 to get MD-87 jet released. He said the Eswatini team that was in Canada appreciated his company’s professionalism and as a result, it was also engaged to do some work on the .ing’s airbus.
“:e extended our fullest support and logistical assistance to that team to successfully navigate the complicated Canadian legal system for nearly six months,” he said.
DEFECTS
“As an organisation owned by those of African origin, we offered our help without any financial gain to help a fellow African nation in its time of need.”
UNICORPE also played a leading role in identifying defects in the engines of the State Jet that is used by His Majesty .ing Mswati III.
He said his company was paid for the role it played in ensuring that the .ing received a safe aircraft.
He said UNICORPE was only involved in technical inspection and accepting the aircraft from the previous owner, delivering it to Germany for 9IP conversion.
He said they were not involved in purchase negotiations and the modification activities in Germany or bringing the aircraft to the .ing after those modifications.
He explained how his company offered its services, which had not been paid to date “:e were then made aware of the intention of the Eswatini Government to revive the national airline and we were selected as the consultants for that task in a competitive process in November 2015.”
The president said UNICORPE also played a part in the establishment of the now operational Eswatini airline.
In a brief interview on Friday, Alamoudi said his company was successful in establishing an operational ready organisation, including recruitment of the staff and setting up the technical, commercial, and administrative infrastructures necessary for an airline.
He said he was happy to see RENAC finally launching the airline and wished the government company success in its air travel business.
Alamoudi said they were extremely optimistic that, with the anticipated wholehearted support from all quarters of the government and the calibre of the experienced aviation professionals in their team, the airline would bear dividends.
INSUFFICIENT
“Unfortunately, we encountered many roadblocks in our efforts which delayed the launch of the airline and stalled its Air Operator Certification (AOC) process,” he said.
He said the primary contributing factor was grossly insufficient and often delayed budget allocations.
In addition to that, he said the airline was subject to hindrances which included:–