GOVT. SHOULD ACQUIRE NEW AVIATION EQUIPMENT FROM NORTH AMERICA

Aug 11, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
We have upcoming oil production with significant cash guaranteed for the national development of the country, therefore the government could look at possibly forming a national aviation department which could be quasi government/private with majority government owned to utilize and offset the costs of operating any new government aviation assets.
Trinidad has National Helicopters Services Limited which enables local Trinidadians to be trained to support their oil and gas industry and to enable the government to justify the acquisition and ownership of new helicopters which operate in various missions around Trinidad and Tobago.
A visit to the National Helicopters website states; “National Helicopter Services Limited (NHSL) formerly the Air Division (Helicopter Unit) of the Ministry of National Security is a joint venture between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) as an 82% shareholder, and The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) holding the remaining 18% of the issued share capital. The Company was incorporated on October 3rd 1989 and commenced operations on February 1st 1990.”
NHSL was formed for the purpose of providing offshore helicopter services to the oil/gas sector and other commercial entities as well as continuance of services to Government i.e. support to the National Security forces, Medical Evacuations (Medevacs) between Tobago and Trinidad and Emergency and Disaster Air Support. NHSL is the holder of an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and Approved Maintenance Organization Certificate (AMOC) issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) to carry out requisite aviation functions.
National Helicopters did so well over the years. They were here in Guyana supporting the Government of Guyana when GDF and the Police required security support with their helicopters to fight crime and to support the early stages of the oil and gas exploration projects in Guyana. Never again should our government be bringing in a foreign government’s equipment to support us while our brothers and sisters in the GDF are underfunded with their helicopters and airplanes not working.
The government needs to invest more in the GDF and Guyanese so we can develop the skills and requisites to participate in the upcoming oil and gas industry from all levels. If Trinidad can do it, so can us, as Guyanese.
I hope to never to see national helicopters operating on oil and gas projects in Guyana while the GDF Air Corps assets remains old and grounded for lack of funding and support and the Air Corps ranks deprived of opportunities to develop the same capabilities like their Trinidadian brothers and sisters.
Maurice Stephens

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