…cops Diaspora Chamber of Commerce award

RORAIMA Group of Companies plans to execute an expansion programme in 2017, which includes the construction of a massive hotel facility near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri.

This is according to Roraima’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Captain Gerald Gouveia, who told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview on Tuesday that “We are looking to expand our air operations and build hotel facilities near the airport.”

He said Roraima Airways is also gearing up for the year-end season, increasing several flights. While other flight improvements are on the cards, weekly flights to Cuba will increase from five to ten. Increase of flights to other destinations will be announced later this week.

“We are very optimistic about the future, the future for tourism and business and we are moving full speed ahead,” Captain Gouveia told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, for its admirable dedication in areas of Tourism and Aviation, Roraima Group of Companies was honoured with another business award, this time by the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) at a gala in Florida, United States of America.

Gouveia received the award Saturday night from Caribbean Central America Action Vice President, Jennifer Nugent at the Bonaventure Resort. In a statement, Captain Gouveia of Roraima Airways, on accepting the award thanked the GACC for the recognition given to his company’s dedication and contribution to Guyana’ tourism and aviation industry since 1992.

He said Roraima is dedicated to creating jobs, making Guyana better, helping people and promoting Guyana as a tourism and business destination. The company has saved hundreds of lives this year through its collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health for medical evacuation of persons in the hinterland.

The company is also planning on providing 520 new jobs for Guyanese, increasing its staff of 260 by 200 percent.

“… That will mean we need to expand Roraima Airways to thrice its size. We are investing more in the aviation sector with the aim of meeting the current and projected demands of passengers and cargo capacity. Guyana is expanding and we are ready to grow with it. We will do it!” Gouveia told the diaspora.

According to the statement, Gouveia also pointed out that though Roraima’s contributions have been great since its launch 24 years ago, he believes that the company has not yet reached its full potential. Gouveia “reiterated that despite its recent partnership with Easy Sky out of Honduras to increase Shopping Tourism in Guyana and two additional Aircraft this year, the company is now taxiing on the runway for take-off.”

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Captain Gouveia said the awards speak to the faithfulness and excellent performance of the Roraima staff and team members and their loyalty to Guyana’s development.

This he said has been recognized at home and internationally through the Year of Jubilee, as the company also received two other prominent awards locally, and its CEO, being honoured by President David Granger with one of Guyana’s highest National Award, the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement.

The company’s chief resort, Arrowpoint Nature Resort, has been awarded ‘Resort of the year’ by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) in June, while in November the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) bestowed the Tourism Entrepreneur of the year Award on Captain Gerald R. Gouveia, Roraima’s CEO.