– President lauds aviation industry
THE Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School at the Ogle Airport yesterday hosted its 13th graduation and induction ceremony, turning out another successful batch of 20 engineers to the aviation sector.
Delivering the feature address, President Donald Ramotar noted that Ogle Airport has come a far way, having started out in the 1950s by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), and he lauded the Aircraft Owners Association for starting the school.
“If we are going to make this industry a very successful one, the most important factor is ensuring that if has the human capital,” he said.
He noted that this growing industry has tremendous scope for development in Guyana, and as such, the graduates will go on to have rewarding careers.
The Head of State recognized that this industry has and continues to play an important role in opening up the country’s interior, which in turn, has propelled economic activities in those areas. He referred to the inter-locking relationship between the mining sector and the aviation industry.
The school is ISO 9001 compliant (an international standard that sets out all the elements that should exist in a sound quality management system), which the President said is noteworthy achievement.
This sector has also made significant contributions with regard to Guyana’s relationship with the rest of the region.
“There are always complaints and frustration over the slow pace of integration in our region; but here too, we see this school, modest as it looks, playing such an important part in bringing our Caribbean people together, because this industry and this airport, when it comes into full operation will be one of the major features in allowing our peoples to be in contact with each other,” President Ramotar posited.
The school has also graduated students from many sister Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago, and in so doing, has contributed to the development of the oneness of the region’s identity.
The president said that his government recognises the importance of this vital industry and has partnered with it to foster further development. Over the past year, there has been a phenomenal increase in the movement of cargo and people to and from the Ogle Airport.
So far this year, passenger movement is recorded at 119,909, compared with 79,482 in 2010, an increase of 50.86 percent. The movement of cargo is recorded at 16,771,496 pounds, compared 11,143,016 pounds last year, an increase of 50.51percent.
“This is a reflection of the growth and importance of this industry; and at the same time, it is a reflection of the growing economic activities taking place in the interior of Guyana; and without this industry, we would not be able to service the development that has taken place,” President Ramotar said.
Government has injected €1.5M obtained from a European fund to extend the runway at the Ogle Airport to accommodate larger aircraft from the Caribbean.
The Guyanese Head of State said that eventually, this facility will become a hub not only for the Caribbean but for neighbouring states such as Brazil and Suriname.
Additionally, over $9M has been spent to modernise air-traffic communication facilities as well as navigation equipment, so as to maintain safe operations and support the ever-increasing demand for the movement of passengers and cargo in Guyana.
President Ramotar also pointed out that this industry is also pivotal to the development of the tourism sector and other new and growing industries in Guyana.
To this end, major investments are also being made to upgrade the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, extending the runway to facilitate bigger aircrafts as well as modernising existing amenities so that tourists can enjoy what the country has to offer.
Today, the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School has evolved into an international training facility. It has graduated over 200 students, 90 of whom are fully qualified licenced engineers and are employed at some of the most reputable aviation companies in the world. (GINA)