Dear Editor,
I READ with shock and amazement an article in one of the leading daily newspapers accusing Guyana Goldfields of completely abandoning hiring local aircraft companies to conduct charters for its mines in the interior.

Here are some facts. I was at Ogle Airport seeing off a friend just this week when I learned that at least two of the several planes which were periodically taking off that day were doing charters for the Aurora Mines. That means that despite the fact that the company has bought, and now owns, a 19-seater aircraft, it still does not have the capacity all by itself to service all of its daily cargo, passenger and emergency needs. It therefore must still depend on companies like ASL and Wings Aviation and must, out of necessity, do so in the foreseeable future.

If it appears that I am a bit informed, this might be because I had spent about an hour chatting with staff at one of the hangars at Ogle about what is happening in the aviation sector while my friend waited to board. I had not been to Ogle in a few months and was just updating myself. After seeing preparations for the take-off of the company’s Twin Otter plane, I did ask questions of staff and was told that the private operators are still doing contract flying for the company each and every week because they are still needed. There were several such flights this week and more will follow going forward. As a Guyanese, I would be appalled if the firm hogs everything for itself.

Additionally, several Guyanese aviators, Captains Paul Dalgetty, Mike Rogers, Dion Haynes and others, are flying the company’s plane as captains in training and will soon qualify to take complete command.

It was also explained to me, Mr. Editor, that the country has long lost the capacity to fly, maintain and manage Twin Otter aircraft because the last two which were owned by Guyana Airways were sold off after elections in 1992. So pilots, engineers and others have to be retrained and recertified to operate the aircraft. This is the reason why there are a few Canadian captains attached to the company.

A quick call to the company or a visit to the operations by the writer at Ogle would have nailed the lie that Guyana Goldfields is abandoning its local content obligations. It is, I am told, paying a huge monthly sum for office space and ground handling services for its plane and operations to Guyanese-owned Wings Aviation. One staff pointed me to the presence of Captain Dalgetty who was sent to Canada to train and certify and is now back with the company.

And when the domestic companies fly cargo to the interior, these planes often carry supplies bought from many Guyanese contractors and suppliers, from foodstuff to anything that is needed in a hurry.

Having said all of this, I am surprised that the company has remained quiet, given the level of discourse in the society about local content obligations involving the big investor companies like Aurora Mines, Troy Resources and of course Exxon. I humbly submit that it might be better for Goldfields to defend itself rather than remain quiet and absorb the blows it is getting.
Regards
Winston Mars
Potential business investor