MINISTER for Transport and Civil Aviation Hon. Walter Schnaubelt has appointed Mr. Dominic Albert Kaumu as acting managing director of the National Airports Corporation (NAC).
Minister Schnaubelt announced this in a press conference earlier this morning following the resignation of Mr. Kintau as acting MD on the 6th of December 2023.
“I want to assure the public and all stakeholders that consistent with the Civil Aviation Act 2000, an acting MD/Chief Executive Officer is now Mr. Dominic Kaumu,” he said.
Schnaubelt said Mr. Kaumu is appointed through a National Gazette No. G1005, on Wednesday 13th December, 2023.
While commenting on the National Court Orders involving Mr. Kiponge’s court case, Minister Schnaubelt said the court orders expressly did not endorse his immediate return to the office as MD for NAC.
He said the National Court on December 5 made a ruling on Kiponge’s judicial review application disputing the revocation of his contract of employment.
Schnaubelt said the formal orders of the National Court, among others, is that: “Liberty is granted the Plaintiff (Kiponge) to amend these proceedings to plead damages as a relief and litigate the question of damages or alternatively to commence fresh proceedings by writ of summons or originating summons seeking damages”.
“Essentially, whilst the Court squashed the decision to revoke his (Kiponge’s) appointment, the Court did not reinstate to his former position.
“Instead, it opened a path for Kiponge to seek damages for the unlawful revocation of his appointment,” Minister Schnaubelt stated.
“What concerns me is Mr. Kiponge’s overt distortion of Court Order, blatantly twisting the verdict to his own script and has now assumed the role of a judge.
“This behavior is particularly troubling considering his previous removal from office was due to issuing restraining orders that jeopardized the safety of air travelers.”
Minister Schnaubelt also expressed that Mr. Kintau who resigned as acting MD following his re-appointment on December 6, 2023, does not have any authority to hand over the post to Rex Kiponge without the consent of the Authority.
“NAC is a critical aviation sector entity and the matter at end requires earnest resolution at the very earliest and I undertake to provide leadership on this matter accordingly.
“However, I am resolved that the person with two names will not be a part of these future discussions at NAC,” Minister Schnaubelt expressed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kiponge in a statement this afternoon claimed that he is the CEO and Managing Director of NAC.
“I have won my case in court on 5th December, 2023, as a CEO and Managing Director of the NAC,” he said.
“The NAC Board met on Friday 8th December and formally reinstated me to serve my full term in office.”
Mr. Kiponge further stated that Minister Schnaubelt is allegedly using police to prevent him from performing his duties as NAC MD.
“The Minister is now using the police to disturb me from performing my normal operations by assembling them outside of the Domestic building at the Jacksons International Terminal since Monday December 11,” he said.
Kiponge called on Police Commissioner David Manning no to allow police force to be used for an individual’s interest.
