Aviation officials from all across the world are in Guyana for the 2018 Conference of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.  More than 190 delegates are attending the meeting, which opened at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre this morning.

The meeting is being hosted by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority with the support of the Guyana Government, CARICOM, the African Union and other partners.

Director General of GCAA, Egbert Field, told the opening ceremony this morning that the conference has come to Guyana at a time when the country is seeing increased airlift and is preparing for major development and growth.

He noted that as the aviation sector expands with more airlift, there will also be a need in the region for members to get rid of impediments to the development of the air transportation sector.

“Guyana is on the path to experience rapid and explosive economic growth and development in various areas, including aviation. This expanded aviation sector will see an increase in airlift in and out of Guyana, with the entrance of new operators and carriers in this market, even as we prepare to produce first oil in early 2020. It is therefore imperative for us a region to remove ourselves from the rigid regulatory impediments that hinder our development as a region and foster ideas towards harmonizing our regulations”, Mr. Field said.

He noted that Guyana is on the rise, with the National Assembly just recently clearing the Civil Aviation Bill. Mr. Field noted the importance of air transport to the development of many countries, since the sector supports development in all areas.

President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Dr. Olumuyiawa Bernard Aliu said he hopes the conference will end with major decisions being reached linking different parts of the world, especially between Africa and the Caribbean. He reminded that air transport remains the safest form of transportation and is developing globally.

He said for many landlocked countries and small states, air transportation is key to ensuring their economic development. Dr. Aliu added that there is the need also for the liberalisation of the regularization for international air transport.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said Guyana is pleased to host the international conference and the Government of Guyana is also happy to have played a major role in supporting the hosting.

He said “Guyana is becoming an attractive market for airlines and is becoming a preferred business and tourist destination”.

The Prime Minister spoke about the coming oil industry and the role that will play in seeing increased air traffic and connectivity through air transport, adding that in the Caribbean, air transport remains critical to many countries.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson also welcomed the delegates to the conference and explained to them that Guyana has been making strides in the aviation sector.

The conference will run until Friday.

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