…new Board urged to reverse situationBy Leonard GildarieA key report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has rated Guyana poorly when it comes to the implementation of key safety oversight.Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson with the new Board members of GCAA yesterday. Fifth from left is new Chairman, Lawrence ‘Larry’ London.Yesterday, a new Board of Directors for the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was urged to correct the situation.ICAO is the international regulator charged with ensuring aviation safety. It would regularly carry out inspections in member countries to ensure recommendations are being implemented.The disclosures were made yesterday in the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure,Wholesale Authentic NFL Jerseys, Kingston, when Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson met with the new Board which will be chaired by former army pilot, Lawrence ‘Larry’ London.The shocking disclosures of the ratings would come as a surprise as aviation authorities have been assuring of improving safety practices when it comes to the industry.Guyana is currently spending US$150M to modernize the CJIA terminal building with the intentions to see more flights from destinations other than the US. Failure to implement recommendations from ICAO could have implications with flight destinations if Guyana is found wanting.According to Minister Ferguson, yesterday, when her Government took office in May last year, GCAA was found deficient in complying with ICAO’s standards and recommended practices.ICAO has given Guyana the thumbs down when it comes to implementing key safety recommendations.“Guyana’s level of effective implementation is currently 44.21% with regard to eight critical elements of safety oversight as established by ICAO…with your help it will be fixed,” Minister Ferguson charged.She said that the new Board is expected to oversee the process of transforming and modernising the sector to attain global standards.Ferguson said that the vision is to see the Civil Aviation system modernised and changed to match global standards. She has committed herself and the government to work closely with the Board, ICAO and other stakeholders to increase Guyana’s effective implementation to at least 60 percent.“This in my view is a key pre-requisite for the sustainable development of aviation, and to aid Guyana’s efforts in reaching benchmarked timelines established in ICAO’s global aviation safety plan and global air navigation plan,wholesale nfl jerseys,” she said.The Ministry insisted that the Board has its work cut out. Among other things,Cheap NBA Jerseys China, the Board will have to provide effective leadership and guidance to the authority; transform the GCAA into a high performance organization.She made it clear that it cannot be business as usual and a proactive Board is what is required.The ICAO has been pushing the ‘no country left behind’ initiative which means that significant work has to be done in the sector with regard to the implementation of its recommendations.Minister Patterson said that there is a tremendous opportunity available in the aviation sector, especially with the upcoming 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations in May.According to the new Chairman,Wholesale Jerseys Paypal, he expects the Board to work as a team to remove processes. Further,Hockey Jerseys 2018 Cheap, in noting the amount of work that has to be done, he said there is no time to spare.“When we meet early next week, we will chart a course and set out a work plan so that what you’ve charged us to do will be done,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys,” London said.Chitrani Heeralall, Director General (Ag) of the GCAA disclosed that the newly appointed members have a wealth of experience in the aviation sector.In addition to London and Heeralall, the other Board members are Hugh Denbow, Sadie Amin, Rodwell Astil Paul, Duke Pollard, Col. Cargill Kyte and Ramesh Ghir (Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport).The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Balraj Balram, is the ex-Officio member of the Board.
