AS Guyana’s aviation sector continues to improve and with new changes in air transport allowing for increased connectivity, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has urged that this country take advantage of the opportunities to connect with its continental neighbours.
In this year alone, Guyana signed bilateral Air Services Agreements for direct flights to Singapore, Aruba and Ghana with Tanzania next in line and existing possibilities for Nigeria, among others.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Aruba and Ghana were both signed at the 2018 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Transport Meeting held in Guyana from November 21 to 23.

The unanimous view of the attending country representatives was that linking the continent of Africa to Guyana would prove to be beneficial to the Caribbean which, following colonialism is home to a large population of the African diaspora.

“Africa and the Caribbean are joined by the Atlantic crossing, and by history and culture. It is long overdue that we should have air transport connectivity,” Nagamootoo had stated at the conference.

Minister of Aviation from Ghana, Joseph Kofi Adda, had also remarked at the conference: “It shall not take too long, after signing the bilateral agreement between Ghana and Guyana, if there’s going to be any test at all for my tenure as the Minister of Aviation in Ghana, it is to ensure that there is some airline flight from the West Coast of Africa to Guyana or to the Caribbean…we’re not just optimistic, we’re not just hopeful but the dream has to be made real.”

His aspirations were shared by Assistant Secretary General for Trade and Economic Integration at the CARICOM Secretariat Neil Cox who stated: “Guyana has oil, so does Trinidad and we have other countries within this region that are aspiring to do the same. The linkages that we are seeing coming out of this is why this event is absolutely essential. What we are seeing here is the dawning of a new day.”

Then, on Sunday in his weekly column ‘My Turn’ Prime Minister Nagamootoo assured that “Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean look forward with renewed confidence at expansion of links with non-traditional markets, such as with the African Union.”

Still on the topic of connectivity, he continued: “Coming out of investment meetings that I have attended in Southern India, there is now growing interest in Guyana among investors of Tamil origins from India, Malaysia and South Africa. There is much idle capital out there and Tamil investors too, would be looking forward to better air connectivity to access the Caribbean market.”

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world will experience a doubling of passengers by flight in less than 20 years and governments and industry must ensure that they can successfully meet this demand.

What Nagamootoo believes will position Guyana to benefit from this is the consistent improvement of its aviation sector and laws. In his article, he noted that in 2017 Guyana recorded its highest international passenger movement in the history of the aviation sector, with an excess of 650,000 passengers.

Meanwhile, the country’s compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices has increased from 44 per cent to 64 per cent with an 80 per cent increase projected by December, 2018.

Added to this, the prime minister said that the revised and Civil Aviation Bill 2017 passed in the House last Monday guarantees “strengthened legal security and safety measures” for the aviation sector. “International aviation is going through a period of unprecedented change. Guyana is poised to take advantage of this change,” Nagamootoo said. “With our expanded runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the new terminal with state-of-the-art facilities, Guyana is in a better position to handle larger aircraft and process more passengers.”

As the hosting of high-level, regional and international conferences have begun to increase in Guyana, Nagamootoo stated that so has international confidence in the country’s ability to provide professional service.

“It is always rewarding for international executives, including ministers from foreign countries, to applaud the Government of Guyana as well as our local entrepreneurs in the air transport, entertainment and hospitality sectors for delivery of what is fast becoming the Guyana brand in quality service and unforgettable hospitality.

“This is what stood out the most during the recently concluded ICC Women T20 tournament in Guyana. I have heard only high praises for our sports organisers, hoteliers, retail shop owners and taxi service providers,” the prime minster reported.
However, he added that these must not distract from one of Guyana’s main objectives of continuing in its Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) 20-year vision, especially with the impending boost of the oil sector.

This strategy will ensure green jobs and inclusive economic diversification; transition to renewable energy as well as trade, investment and international cooperation among others.
Putting aside the topic of local political controversies in the particular column, the Prime Minister stated: “I have decided instead, to air my views on the new horizons for Guyana’s prosperity, which are the modernisation of our governance system and promotion of opportunities for expanding our air travel connectivity.

“At the air transport conference, so up-beat were participants over Guyana becoming a new western hemispheric hub, that the air was buzzing with the melody of Guyana’s singing stars Eddie Grant, who sang, “Give me hope…!”