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| Andrew Harrisson Ghanaian CEO of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, |
GMR plans to collect a Charge of $25.00 from all passengers departing
to foreign countries from Maldives.
I wonder if this is an error in judgment by GMR
or Cynical intent on the part of the foreign company managing the airport.
1.
A “charge” is a levy on
expenses which have been incurred in relation either to a transaction or to a
suit; as the charges incurred for one’s benefit must be paid by a hirer; the
defendant must pay the charges of a suit. The term charges, in relation to
actions, include something more than the costs, technically called.
2.
Charges should not be
levied for expenses not incurred in relation to a transaction.
3.
Since a charge is a levy on
a service rendered and not a service to be rendered, once a charge is levied there
is no refund.
4.
GMR in its uncertainty and
quest to rob the passengers travelling from Maldives of $25.00 have a unique
clause in its notice.
a. On cancellation of the
flight, the payment made will stand as credit in the name of the passenger. The
airport copy of the ADC receipt will be returned to the passenger duly stamped “
valid for next flight”
b.
For Credited ADC then the
passenger is required to show both the passenger copy as well as the returned airport copy to avoid ADC payment for the next flight.
c.
In the event of passenger
cancelling their travel the ADC refund will be made according to the same mode
of payment. Cash will be refunded in Cash & Credit card payment will be
refunded to card.
5.
It is clear from the
clauses above that the so called “ADC” Airport Development Charge is a charge
that GMR is charging from passengers (International Passengers) who purchased
tickets from airlines companies and operators. Airline is neither owned by GMR
nor is this service provided by GMR. In short GMR is levying a “Charge” on
passengers for a service that is provided by someone else.
6.
Is this Unique in Maldives.
Yes it is. Airport development costs are
secured in the form of taxes for the use of the airport from those who use it.
And we are already paying an Airport TAX. This is done to recover the cost incurred
for Developing the Airport, and not for managing recurrent expenses of the
Company. Not to raise money for the
company coffers. In all cases it is
levied for a limited duration of time during which time the percentage of the
cost to be secured from the uses is collected as an “Airport Development TAX”.
7.
Users of Ibrahim Nasir
International Airport (INIA) already pay a tax an Airport Tax of US$ 18.00
8.
Understanding the proper use
of the word “Charge” as in the dictionaries across the world and it’s most common
usage in the English language it would be legally and morally wrong for GMR to
levying a charge on the passenger who have bought a ticket to travel abroad
from Maldives. A service that GMR does not provide the passenger.
9.
Look at what we already pay
a.
Airport Service Charge of
US12.00 (Locals)
b.
Insurance Surcharge of
US2.00 (Locals)
c.
Airport Service Charge of
US 16.00 (Foreigners)
d.
Insurance Surcharge of US
2.00 (Foreigners)
10.
To sum up, we are already
paying for the service and for the insurance of the Airport.
a.
Now if we have to pay for
the development of the airport,
b.
then development should come
before we have to pay for it.
c.
If this is not a service
charge or tax, then there must be a limit in the duration and amount that is collected
from customers.
d.
It’s the responsibility of
the Shareholders to finance the development not the customers.
In conclusion, I would appreciate your
participation in expressing your opposition to GMR's decision to levy such a
huge toll on passengers. A charge of US$ 25.00 on all passengers and tourists from Maldives in addition to the US$18.00 that is
already included in the sale of the ticket as “Airport Service Charge”. An "Airport
Development Charge" totaling US$ 43.00 will have ripple effect on our economy, tourism and
the local population that depend on travel to neighboring countries for medical.
Please give your comments honestly and frankly, "Together we are strong, divided we fall"
