THE Government of Guyana has, through the Public Infrastructure Ministry, signed an Air Services Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), thereby paving the way for airlines to operate from either state.Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, signed the agreement on Tuesday in Montreal, Canada, while attending the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) World Aviation Forum (WAF) 2015 at ICAO Headquarters. She was accompanied there by Chitrani Heeralall, Director-General (ag) of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Subsequent to the signing, Minister Ferguson alluded to the UAE being the home of two of the world’s best airlines, namely, Etihad and Emirates. She expressed the hope of having at least one of those airlines operate in ‘Destination Guyana.’

The aviation forum, themed “Aviation Partnership for Sustainable Development,” comes at a time when the ICAO and the United Nations Specialised Organisation for Civil Aviation have launched their ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
“The ICAO WAF is a unique opportunity to harness aviation’s vast potential to stimulate economic growth in a manner consistent with the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Despite the clear economic significance and the demonstrated ability to serve as a foundation and catalyst for global connectivity and economic growth, only 2.5% of global 2005-2015 funding for infrastructure and services has aviation development, “the Public Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative has received the support of many of the developed countries and the donor community, which have pledged their continued support for collaboration, for rendering technical assistance, and for aviation development as a whole. According to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Guyana will be seeking support from the ICAO for technical assistance to improve the level of compliance with ICAO standards.

Minister Ferguson was, meanwhile, invited by the ICAO to moderate the session on investment and aviation development perspectives. She took the opportunity to inform the forum of aviation development in Guyana.

“Guyana, like many States here, considers the growth and sustainability of aviation a catalyst for improved social and economic activities and structures,” the minister stated.

A similar call was made at the Aviation Conference held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in October 2015 for recognition of aviation as the lifeblood of economic and social development in Guyana, and for action to be taken to address the challenges the sector is facing, including strengthening of the civil aviation safety oversight body. During that conference, the need for a safe, sustainable and strong aviation sector was also emphasised.

Minister Ferguson added, “Guyana joins with the rest of the aviation world to congratulate ICAO on this ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative, and is heartened to hear from the developed countries their pledge for continued support and collaboration with ICAO and its member states, to ensure that No country is Left Behind”.

Minister Ferguson also said, “Many states here share similar challenges in financing aviation projects to enable their economic development, and I am sure our esteemed panel will share perspectives on global investment and aviation development, and encourage donors to assist in enabling economic development through financing of various aviation projects, so that the spirit of the No Country Left Behind initiative of ICAO can be realised for the positive impact on the economic and social development of all states”.

Minister Ferguson and the GCAA Director General (ag) will continue their discussions to seek technical and financial assistance for Guyana’s aviation development.
(Svetlana Marshall)