Paragon tells Menzies to ‘go to hell’

Despite successive legal setbacks, aviation firm Menzies Aviation Namibia refuses to admit defeat.This time around, it is attacking its competitor Paragon Investments Holdings by accusing it of lacking the experience needed to provide ground-handling services at Namibian airports.Menzies made the claim in a statement issued on Friday after losing a Supreme Court appeal it had lodged against an eviction order.The eviction order was granted by the High Court during the latter part of 2022 in a matter between itself and Paragon, effectively ejecting the company from the Hosea Kutako International Airport’s premises.Menzies has been providing ground-handling services since 2014, but failed in its appeal against the Namibia Airports Company’s (NAC) request for it to vacate the premises so that Paragon can take over operations.The battle continues“Although we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we made it clear to the NAC and to the new entity, on whose behalf the eviction was sought and granted, that the other ongoing court proceedings filed by Menzies to set aside the contract that was awarded to our competitor (which lacks experience and capacity to render the required services) will continue until all of Menzies rights are obtained,” the aviation company’s vice-president for commercial and business development in Namibia and South Africa, Ian van Rooyen, said. He is referring to a case in which Menzies alleged that the NAC&#039;s tender process – which saw Paragon hired – was corrupt. The company argued that Paragon&#039;s bid was incomplete and that forged signatures appear on its documents.EntitlementResponding to the claims yesterday, Paragon co-founder Desmond Amunyela accused Menzies of “possessing an entitlement syndrome”.“We are certified by all relevant authorities; Menzies is in no position to rate us. They never even conducted an inspection on us, so how can they conclude we do not have experience?” he questioned.Amunyela further said: “It is clear that Menzies is undermining Namibians. Funny enough, most of their workers are Namibians just like ours. If Namibians are so incapable, then why are most of their workers not from abroad?”The businessman-cum-politician said his team is ready to execute its ground-handling work.“We are very experienced and we possess the required skills to do our work,” he said.An irked Amunyela further warned: “If they [Menzies] continue with this entitlement syndrome, they can go to hell. We will deal with them without kid gloves”.Give us timeIn the Menzies statement, Van Rooyen also pleaded for more time to vacate the airport as it felt the deadline given was too short. The company was given notice to vacate and hand over operations today. “We are of the firm view that such eviction notice is unreasonable and practicably unachievable and [will] jeopardise the safety and security of the operations. We are taking all actions and measures to mitigate and challenge it. “We are working around the clock with our legal team to ask for a judicial relief to prevent the new contract from being implemented, or at least to obtain urgent relief to secure a reasonable and practicable transition process,” Van Rooyen said.

Paragon tells Menzies to ‘go to hell’

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Paragon tells Menzies to ‘go to hell’

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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