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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday May 29, 2014
Gov’t continues push for increased air lift – UAE officials here for talks
THE Government of Guyana is in talks with United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards negotiating an air service agreement that will see at least one of UAE’s three major flag carriers operating flights to Guyana, in the very near future. On Tuesday morning, in the conference room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a delegation each from Guyana and the UAE met for further discussions. The local delegation comprised from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Director General Zulficar Mohamed, GCAA Board Chairman Hugh Denbow, GCAA General Counsel, Amanza Desir and Air Transport Officer Saheed Sulaman; from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation, the Senior Aerodrome Officer, Alvin Majeed and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senior Legal Adviser, Trishala Persaud. The team from UAE comprised from the UAE’s Federal Government, Director General, His Excellency (H.E) Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi and Air
Transport Agreements Chief Specialist Valerie Browne and from the Department of Transport-Abu Dhabi, Senior Analyst-Government Affairs Saeed Al Suwaidi. Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn formally opened discussions and expressed the Government of Guyana’s pleasure of having the opportunity for the negotiation and the signing of an air service agreement to foster better linkages between the two countries. Minister Benn further noted that the dialogue comes at a time when Guyana’s aviation sector, both at the domestic, regional and international level is expanding. “There are opportunities, via Guyana, we expect and we intend for foreign countries and air service operators to use Guyana as a regional and international hub for the development of the aviation sector, and for the development of other economical and tourism and other linkages between the continents and specifically between the countries like Guyana and the United Arab Emirates,” he said.
Minister Robeson Benn with the Guyana/UAE delegation negotiating the air service agreement between the two countries Al Suwaidi, in his opening remarks, noted that it would have taken the UAE’s delegation days to travel to Guyana. “So the need to connect your country to our Region is very important,” he said. He also reaffirmed his government’s openness to engage with the Government of Guyana on any future engagement in the aviation sector.
The team from UAE, from the UAE’s Federal Government, Director General, His Excellency (H.E) Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi and Air Transport Agreements Chief Specialist, Valerie Browne, and from the Department of Transport-Abu Dhabi, Senior Analyst-Government Affairs Saeed Al Suwaidi
The UAE has close to 30 airlines with the largest three operating being the Emirate Airline, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways. The Emirate Airline is the largest in the Middle East, operating nearly 3,400 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 133 cities in 74 countries across six continents. The Air Arabia is a low-cost airline with its head
office in the Sharjah Freight Center, Sharjah International Airport, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It operates scheduled services to 51 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe to 22 countries from Sharjah, 28 destinations in 9 countries from Casablanca, Fez, Nador, Tangier and Marrakesh and 6 destinations in 4 countries from Alexan-
dria. Its main base is Sharjah International Airport. Etihad Airways, the flag carrier airline of the United Arab Emirates operates more than 1,000 flights per week to 96 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, with a fleet of 85 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. (GINA)
Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Robeson Benn, opens the Guyana/ UAE air service negotiation on Tuesday
Bartica residents to benefit from new $62M community centre
–facility remains in hands of the people, says Presidential Advisor Lumumba PRESIDENTIAL Advisor on Community Development, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, has announced at the 48th Independence flag raising ceremony held in Region Seven on Sunday, that the new Bartica Community Centre will now be of service to residents in the community. The facility, which will be used for sporting activities will be controlled, maintained, secured and managed by a management committee from the Region that will be headed by the Regional Executive Officer in Bartica. The initial cost of the building was $54M, but $8M more is required to cater for some sanitary blocks and other minor works. However, Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, who in the past visited the centre along with Lumumba, provided the remaining funds from her pocket for the completion of the centre, Lumumba said.
“I said to the REO and the Regional Chairman that he must come up with a plan for the rehabilitation of the playground so we will look at the playground this year and 2015 so that we can have a proper playground so that you can play football, cricket, hockey and any other sport that is deemed necessary and appropriate,” Lumumba told the gathering. He assured that the Government will continue to respond to the needs of the residents. “We have constructed two outposts in Bartica. There has also been the completion of two roads and work will soon commence on river defence,” the Presidential Advisor stated. He noted that the Bartica - Potaro road has been a complex issue, but it must be dealt with. Government will continue to build proper roads from Bartica to Potaro especially one to ‘Five Mile’, he said.
Presidential Advisor on Community Development Odinga Lumumba speaking to Bartica residents Lumumba added that he has been assured by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, and Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, that this year there will be attempts to complete the concrete drains alongside the roads and construct asphaltic roads. (GINA)