Historic 1st as GCAA Director General elected chairman of CASSOS

…provides opportunity for Guyana to do more for Caribbean – Indar

The Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field, has been elected Chairman of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), a landmark achievement in the country’s history.
This is the first time that Guyana and the GCAA have assumed the chairmanship of the regional aviation body. Previous chairmanships have been held by Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, each represented by their respective Director General.
The election was done at the 28th Board of Directors meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago from May 4 to 6. Field will serve for a two-year term.
CASSOS is the regional inter-Governmental organisation mandated to provide civil aviation safety and security oversight services to its member states. Established to support the smaller aviation administrations of the Caribbean region, CASSOS serves as a shared mechanism through which States can collectively meet their obligations under the Chicago Convention, the foundational treaty governing international civil aviation.
In a statement released on Thursday, GCAA noted that Guyana is assuming the leadership of CASSOS at a pivotal and transformative juncture for the organisation as the regional body is actively seeking to build its capacity and capability to help its Member States enhance oversight of their aviation activities, improve their compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and standardise their regulations.
According to the GCAA, “Guyana’s chairmanship of CASSOS is not merely a national honour; it is a shared responsibility to the Caribbean Community and one that will be exercised with the highest degree of professionalism, collaboration, and dedication to the people of the region.”
Commenting on his election, Field said, “Guyana will work with the member states of CARICOM as a team to tackle common issues and challenges confronting the region. We are better and stronger together.”
Also sharing his views on this development, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar said, “This chairmanship is for Guyana and the Caribbean Community and a signal of the role Guyana must play in taking the region’s aviation sector to new heights.”
Indar said he recalled President Dr Irfaan Ali’s mandate for Guyana to play a more leading role within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), noting that this election will help in fulfilling that objective.
“President Ali has committed to Guyana playing a greater role in CARICOM, and this role gives Guyana the opportunity to do more for the region,” he said.
The 28th Board of Directors meeting was attended by several prominent international institutions, all of which pledged their continued support to CASSOS and its renewed mission. These institutions include the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – represented by both the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) and South American (SAM) regional offices – as well as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the French Civil Aviation Safety Directorate (French West Indies and French Guiana).
Only earlier this year, the GCAA director as well as its deputy, Saheed Sulaman, were appointed to serve on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global Ambassadors Programme. The appointments are for two years and commenced on January 1, 2026.
Field, with over 50 years of experience in military and civil aviation as both a Pilot and an administrator, has led Guyana’s GCAA as Director General for the past decade, strengthening its institutions and boosting international credibility.
With 19 years at GCAA, Dr Sulaman has held senior roles and is now deputy Director General, overseeing organisational development, capacity building, and strategic initiatives.
Previously commenting on these appointments, Indar had said, “This is a proud moment for Guyana. Our aviation sector is soaring to new heights, and it is deeply encouraging that our professionals are being given opportunities to represent Guyana on the global stage. Much credit to His Excellency President Ali’s vision in transforming Guyana’s aviation sector. His Excellency’s vision gives Guyana regional and global visibility.”