GAC’s statement on Govt’s lack of interest in aviation is “baseless” – Edghill

…says PPP/C has successfully engaged new carriers

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has vehemently underscored that Government has committed to the development of the aviation sector, fostering investment and dialogue in key areas to attract investors.

This position was penned in a statement, responding to alleged reports from Chairman of the Board of Guyana Airways Corporation Incorporated, Dr Colin Abrams that Government’s lack of interest in starting dialogue to establish an airline is the reason he is selling his company.
The Minister said he found these statements to be “disconcerting” and as such, addressed the report.
“Dr Abrams’ assessment of this Government’s posture on interest in his intention to establish a national airline is unfounded. He must be informed that our Government is a facilitator of business, which we do for all sectors of the economy. We encourage investment!” Edghill asserted.
Since assuming office, the Public Works Minister indicated that they have met with numerous airlines – both potential and existing within the industry in Guyana, since it is interesting in attracting more carriers for the country.
“We make it our duty to advise these air operators that the Government is interested in facilitating investment in the aviation industry, so we can improve travel options and connectivity for people and cargo, whether domiciled in Guyana or abroad…We are interested in more airlines servicing Guyana which will complement the Government’s transformative agenda for Guyana. I am happy to report that our engagements thus far have been successful.”
Therefore, he added that the statement about Government’s lack of interest in getting a national airline is “far from the truth”. In early 2021, Edghill said he enquired from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as to the status of GAC’s application.
He was advised that the company had not completed its application process with the regulatory agency for acquisition of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). The AOC is a certificate authorising an operator to carry out specified commercial air transport operations.
Acquisition of the AOC is a five-phase process as follows: Pre-application Statement of Intent (PASI), the application, document evaluation, demonstration and certification.
Evidence from the GCAA showed that in September 2016, GAC initiated its intention to operate commercial air transport services in Guyana and commenced Phase 1 of the AOC process on June 23, 2017. By November 2019, GAC had made little progress in submitting the requisite documentation to the GCAA and the company was only at Phase 2 of the AOC process.
On November 20, 2019, the GCAA wrote the company advising, that the AOC process was terminated because of GAC’s failure to meet all its promised deadlines for submission of the requisite documentation. GAC’s application process was terminated by the GCAA almost ten 10 months before the PPP/C government took office on August 2, 2020.
The Minister concluded, “In no certain terms, I would like for it to be known that the PPP/C Government is a facilitator of business, and our plan is to support development of aviation in Guyana and most assuredly, GAC or any other is welcome to invest in Guyana, just follow the process.”
As a policy decision, he underlined that the PPP/C Administration will not direct the GCAA to issue an AOC credential to any potential operator which does not meet the regulatory requirements.
“If we do, we run the risk of contravening our international obligation to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Should GAC still have an interest in Guyana, I encourage them to engage the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to complete the application process for the AOC because making baseless claim about the Government is a futile exercise.”