No status downgrade of CJIA’s rescue and fire-fighting capacity – GCAA refutes report

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has maintained that there was no downgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s (CJIA) status as it relates to its rescue and firefighting capacity.

On Thursday, online news entity Demerara Waves reported that the GCAA had downgraded the CJIA’s, which is Guyana’s main port of entry, rescue and firefighting capacity from a category eight to category five due to limitations in both the fire tenders and number of personnel assigned to the airport – something which the aviation regulatory body refuted.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the GCAA said both the headline – “GCAA downgrades Cheddi Jagan Airport’s rescue and firefighting capacity, but airport remains safe” – and the implications contained within the article are misleading.
“Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Field, Director General of the GCAA, firmly states that there has been no downgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s status from category eight to category five. Furthermore, he has not signed any document to suggest such a change,” the statement detailed.

Moreover, the GCAA further pointed out that unnamed sources in the article, unfortunately, provided inaccurate information to the news agency regarding the category rating of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
“The GCAA does not disclose or discuss inspection findings and reports on aviation stakeholders with third parties,” the regulatory body contended in the missive.
Nevertheless, the GCAA maintains its commitment to the highest standards of aviation safety and regulatory oversight and assures the public that Cheddi Jagan International Airport continues to operate safely and efficiently.
Only in September, it was reported that Guyana had recently concluded the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) USOAP (Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme) and USAP (Universal Aviation Security Audit Programme) audits. The results from those audits showed that Guyana was successful in both areas of operations.
The USOAP and USAP audits are programmes run by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to assess the aviation safety and security oversight capabilities of its member states, not specific airlines or airports.
Moreover, just last month, Guyana also received a positive assessment of its aviation security system following an audit conducted by two aviation security auditors from Transport Canada.
The auditors evaluated the nation’s security protocols, infrastructure, and operational practices across its aviation sector. Their examination encompassed all critical areas designed to ensure the safety and integrity of air travel, from screening procedures to regulatory oversight.
In their report to the GCAA Director General, the auditors found no issues of significant concern, indicating a high standard of compliance and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, back in August 2024, Guyana had achieved an overall score of 66.36 per cent for the effective implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards following an audit which was done between May and June last year, under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) Programme.
Guyana is a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as the Chicago Convention).
As a member state of ICAO and a participant in the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) Programme, Guyana commits to providing ongoing information related to the establishment and implementation of its safety oversight system.
Notably, Guyana’s performance surpassed its 2007 ICAO audit and the last four audits conducted by ICAO within the South American region.
The audit was robust and comprehensive and covered the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the safety-related provisions of its Annexes in the following eight areas.
These include legislation, organisation, personnel licensing, aircraft operations, airworthiness of aircraft, aircraft accident and incident investigation, air navigation services and aerodromes and ground aids.
With the exception of aircraft accidents and incident investigations, each audit area was assessed using eight critical elements, including primary aviation legislation; specific operating regulations; state system and functions; qualified technical personnel; technical guidance, tools and provision of safety-critical information; licensing, certification, authorisation and/or approval obligations; surveillance obligations; and resolution of safety issues.