Menzies refuses to release cargo

MENZIES Aviation Group’s chief executive officer Philipp Joeinig says the company will not release cargo that has been in its warehouse at Hosea Kutako International Airport since 18 August.

This comes days after freight forwarding agents have been begging Menzies and the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) to release the cargo.

Some of the cargo was destined for sale at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair currently underway.

Medical equipment and wedding dresses and suits are also said to be among the cargo.

In a statement released yesterday, Joeinig said the company is unable to hand the cargo over to Paragon Aviation Services or the NAC.

“Menzies has informed its clients that they should request the NAC to permit Menzies to handle the distribution of the cargo, as Menzies cannot do so while being dispossessed of HKIA,” he said.

Joeinig said Menzies is both legally entitled and obligated to continue delivering ground handling services at the airport.

He said Menzies should be allowed to operate, because the NAC gave them a 30-day notice on 9 August to vacate HKIA on Friday.
Joeinig said Paragon continues to render the ground handling services at HKIA while the legal matter on the notice period is before the courts.

Judgement on the matter has been reserved for 1 September.

“Paragon continues to render the ground handling services at HKIA and will remain in unlawful possession, and Menzies will not be allowed access to the airport. This is unfortunately out of Menzies’ hands,” he said.

Paragon has been handling cargo and freight operations at the airport since 19 August after Menzies was evicted from the airport through a court order.

At the time of their eviction, already delivered cargo was in Menzies’ former warehouse facilities, which were locked by the authorities at the time of the transition, and continues to be retained in the same secure area.

NAC chief executive Bisey Uirab last week said they have requested an inventory of the cargo within those facilities to ensure the timely release thereof.

He said the NAC has also sent requests to an entity that represents freight forwarders, as well as to Menzies to furnish the NAC with the name of one of Menzies’ employees who will be handing over all the cargo to Paragon.

“We also indicated that upon receipt of details of the Menzies employee, the NAC will immediately arrange with the deputy sheriff, the Namibian Police, the Namibia Revenue Agency as well as Namibia Protection Services to facilitate the handover of the relevant cargo to Paragon for Paragon to attend thereto,” Uirab said.

He said Menzies and the relevant freight forwarders’ organisation did not respond to the NAC’s request.
Meanwhile, Airlink has resumed cargo operations at airport.

The airline last week suspended its cargo services at the the airport.

Company spokesperson Linden Birns said the resumption follows constructive discussions with Paragon.

“Airlink apologises to customers affected by the temporary suspension of cargo services at the airport and will expedite clearing its cargo backlog.

“For an interim period, Airlink personnel will support Paragon staff to familiarise them with Airlink’s cargo handling processes,” he said.