Paragon warns against ‘corporate entitlement’

A decision to allow Menzies Aviation to continue providing ground-handling services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport - despite a Supreme Court ruling stating otherwise - is tantamount to condoning lawlessness in the country, Paragon Investment Holdings director Desmond Amunyela said.He was speaking at a press briefing yesterday after the High Court gave Menzies 30 days to stop its operations. He expressed great frustration with the delays and alleged “entitlement mentality” of Menzies, adding that Paragon lost millions in potential revenue as the dispute dragged on."If Menzies does not leave, that is not an option because if they continue to be in the airport after this, that would make a mockery of the law. “Then we might as well go open the jails [and release] all those people held there for crimes - including Kolikie [former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau] and [former justice minister Sacky] Shanghala. “I am beginning to see an attitude that I don&#039;t like in this whole thing. It’s this thing of entitlement and privilege that is actually the problem. People can say things they want and we must just accept it to be true, almost as if being gaslighted. “Imagine how many Namibians want to be part of business, but they cannot litigate their cases as far as we have gone. We are now understanding that this is the real second phase of the struggle,” Amunyela said. Delay tacticsAt the press conference, co-founder Lazarus Jacobs said Paragon is ready to take over from Menzies. “While not pleased with the delay occasioned by the unlawful refusal of Menzies to leave the airport, [the company] is at least happy that it has now been made clear that Menzies will have to leave the airport. “Paragon is profoundly concerned with the arrogant attitude and dilatory tactics employed by Menzies over the last 12 months or so. Paragon will henceforth no longer tolerate any delay tactics and will as a fact take over operations at the expiration of that period that the Namibia Airports Company [NAC] may give to Menzies to leave the airport,” he said.South African aviation outfit Menzies has been fighting tooth and nail to continue providing ground-handling services at the airport, despite several setbacks in the country’s courts, including the Supreme Court giving its blessing to the NAC to award Paragon the right to provide ground-handling services at the country’s largest airport.Menzies also argued that Paragon does not have sufficient equipment, staff and experience to execute its mandate, but the latter insists it is more than ready and equipped. jemima@namibiansun.com

Paragon warns against ‘corporate entitlement’

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-11

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Paragon warns against ‘corporate entitlement’

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-11

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