Earlier on Tuesday, Gonesh had received a formal letter from the board informing him of his suspension. The letter stated that he was required to vacate the premises immediately, refrain from contacting SLM employees, and stay away from the airline’s headquarters during the suspension. However, the decision was later reversed by the RvC, effectively putting the suspension on hold for the time being.

The suspension move came shortly after the Simons administration and the Board of Directors launched an independent investigation into alleged irregularities linked to Gonesh’s leadership. President Jennifer Simons, addressing the matter on Monday, stressed the importance of strong leadership at the national carrier. “It is essential to have experts in key positions within the aviation sector. If it becomes necessary to seek a new director for SLM, we will do so. We must secure the best person for the job, because that is the only way to safeguard the future of SLM,” she said.