Coalition’s record on aviation safety oversight cannot be denied

Nov 13, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

I am compelled to offer a comment, in letter format, on the recent release by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regarding the security audit, as reported in the Stabroek News edition of November 7, 2025.

It would be remiss of me not to provide a brief summary of Guyana’s aviation compliance status prior to May 2015 and the significant strides made under the Coalition Government, working in close collaboration with the GCAA under the competent leadership of Mr. Egbert Field, AA (Lt. Col., Ret’d), who assumed the role of Director General in August 2016.

For context, the GCAA operated under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration for twenty-three consecutive years prior to the change in government in May 2015. During that period, the Authority appeared to function in a routine manner, with limited exposure of staff to international training opportunities and aviation conferences. However, following the change in administration, new energy and strategic direction were injected into the Authority’s operations.

At the time the Coalition Government took office in May 2015, Guyana’s level of compliance under the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) stood at 44.4 percent. This assessment highlighted the need for strong policy direction and renewed investment in aviation oversight—areas that had suffered from neglect under the previous administration.

Recognising the aviation sector’s potential for growth and its importance to national development, the Coalition Government demonstrated the necessary political will to strengthen the Authority’s regulatory capacity and ensure alignment with ICAO’s global standards. Consequently, in 2018, ICAO honoured Guyana for its outstanding progress in aviation safety oversight and compliance with international standards. This recognition followed Guyana’s achievement of over 60 percent compliance under the USOAP—representing a significant improvement in regulatory performance and safety management systems (ICAO, 2018). The award, presented during ICAO’s 75th Anniversary Regional Safety Oversight Awards in Toronto, Canada, acknowledged the GCAA’s leadership in modernising Guyana’s aviation framework, enhancing technical capacity, and demonstrating excellence within the Caribbean and South American region.

Therefore, it is misleading for the current PPP/C administration to claim sole credit for the Authority’s recent 80 percent compliance achievement. The progress being celebrated today is a direct result of the policies, investments, and reforms initiated under the Coalition Government. Between 2016 and 2020, substantial advancements were made: staff were sent for overseas training, including thirty (30) Air Traffic Controllers who received specialised instruction at the Civil Aviation Training Centre in Jamaica in 2017. A modern air traffic control simulator was commissioned the same year, new aviation legislation was enacted in 2018 to harmonise with regional standards, electronic pilot licensing was introduced in 2017, and a drone unit was in the process of being established prior to the 2020 change in government (GCAA, Annual Report 2018).

It is also noteworthy that these achievements were realised without the benefit of oil revenues. The Coalition Government’s prudent management, coupled with its commitment to international best practices, earned the respect of private operators and aviators who commended the reforms for improving efficiency, compliance, and the overall business environment within the aviation sector.
The record, indeed, speaks for itself.

Yours sincerely,
Annette Ferguson

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Annette Ferguson, aviation, Letters, oversight, safety

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