Roraima airways 1st half 2017 newsletter

AMO exceeds expectations P.4 Issue 2017-1

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Roraima Airways celebrates Silver Jubilee

The Gouveia family, Awardees and special invitees at the Roraima Silver Jubilee celebrations on January 26, 2017 .

Roraima Airways, a beacon in this country - Harmon … the company’s contribution created employment. P.3

INSIDE:

Roraima/Dynamic turns 3, hires 25 P.5

Roraima aid in Region 8 flood relief P. 9

9th edition Wedding Expo creates new era for Wedding Tourism in Guyana P. 7

Per person

$145US

+ tax

For Affordable Fares to Kaieteur Falls call 227-2212

RTTA 2017 Weds ...Medevac’s... risk P. 10

P.6

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Awardees for Roraima’s Silver Jubilee 25 years of Service 

Over 15 of Service

Gilleon Chase

  

Gilleon Chase

Alana Seeteram Vedita Balram Mitra Ramkumar

Alana Seeteram

Employee of the year 

Simone Morgan

Simone Morgan

Vedita Balram

Mitra Ramkumar

Working Beyond the call of Duty 

Derek Doman



Lenny Rupchand



Godfrey Thomas



Edward Williams



Sacha Persaud



Devon Bacchus



Capt. Collin Martin



Bholanauth Baijnath



Leonard Higgins

Lenny Rupchand

Derek Doman’s son received on his behalf

Godfrey Thomas

Leonard Higgins

Sacha Persaud

Bholanauth Baijnath

Edward Williams’s daughter received on his behalf

Special Awardees

The late Capt. Alvin Clarke’s son received on his behalf

Member of Village Council received on behalf of the Village

Richard Sammy, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd received on the Bank’s behalf



The late Capt. Alvin Clarke



Santa Mission Village



Republic Bank



Ministry of Public Health



Benny Sankar

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Roraima Airways, a beacon in this Country - Harmon … the Company’s contribution created employment The Government of Guyana has commended the contribution made

by Roraima Airways to the country’s economic development over the past quarter century and hails the company as a Beacon. Speaking at the launch of the company’s silver jubilee celebrations, Minister of State Joseph Harmon commended Roraima’s contribution especially to the nation’s aviation and tourism sectors and urged its expanded participation in the economy so as to generate increased employment for Guyanese.

The Company launched its 25th Anniversary celebrations on Thursday January 26 with a Gala and Special Awards Dinner at the Roraima Duke Lodge ushering in a year of activities to mark the milestone.

Top government and private sector officials as well as politicians including former President Donald Ramotar joined the management and staff in their celebrations which included long service awards to several employees.

“On behalf of President Granger and the Government of Guyana I want to congratulate Roraima Airways for the safe and stable employment opportunities it provides

In his remarks former president Donald Ramotar said that Roraima Airways continues to be an important entity in the Guyanese landscape. He too commended the contribution the company continues to make to the economic and social development of Guyana.

Minister of State - Hon. Joe Harmon

for so many Guyanese. When I look around and see so many happy young faces I hope more companies would strive to provide the environment where people are happy to be where they are,” Minister Harmon said as he congratulated the employees who received long service awards.

The Minister of State made reference to the range of services which Roraima offers including search and rescue, hospitality and related business, pointing out that “Roraima has been a beacon in this country and we owe the company a debt of gratitude for its contribution.” He also praised the vision and tenacity of the Roraima’s founder and chief executive officer Captain Gerry Gouveia.

Flashback: Republican Steel Pan Orchestra performed at the Award ceremony

Among the awardees topping the list were the Indigenous village of Santa Mission where Roraima has its Arrowpoint Nature Resort and whose residents contribute to the rewarding experience which visitors enjoy, Republic Bank for its long standing partnership and Gilleon Chase for 25 years of employment with the Company.

Former President Donald Ramotar addressed the gathering at the Award Ceremony

Canadian High Commissioner, H.E. Pierre Giroux greets Roraima’s CEO , Capt.

Gerald Gouveia after the Award ceremony

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Aircraft Maintenance Division turns 1, exceeded expectations “The launch of Roraima’s AMO in April of 2016 served as an engine for greater productivity for the Roraima Ogle Operation. The operationalization of this division answered the need for timely maintenance flight turn over to facilitate the demand for an increase passenger and cargo transport service. Additional, this division created employment opportunities for many of our young people and those who needed to advance their aviation career”.

These were the sentiments shared by Capt. Learie Barclay, Director of Operations on the one year anniversary of the Company’s Aircraft Maintenance Organization Department.

Flight Operation staff

and so we can safely say that we are more competent and more effective in carrying out all maintenance activity on the aircraft. He further mentioned that the assembling of two Aircraft which the Company brought from New Zealand and replacing a damaged Aircraft wing as a result of an accident tops the Division’s list accomplishments. Mr. Farley credited those accomplishments to the skills and good judgment which exist within the Division.

When asked about the composition of the Division, Mr. Farley stated that, “At the moment we have 25 staff who includes; engineers, technicians and the supporting staff who are all part of this family. We are in this organization for one objective and that is to make sure that the work that we carry out is safe AMO Maintenance at work and approved. Our supporting staff inThe Department celebrated cludes; technical records personnel its first anniversary on April and also personnel from our technical 23 and an assessment was done to capture some of the stores. In the Division they are differDivisions most significant ac- ent sections with responsibilities such complishments. Jason Farley, as the Avionics Department who enthe Aircraft Maintenance su- sure that our instruments and Radios pervisor when asked about its are functioning properly”. accomplishment said, “Since On the question of the vision of the the AMO was launched we Division for the next 20 years, Capt. were able to accomplish significant training and skill en- Barclay stated that, one of the things hancement of individual staff, projected is an increase feet capacity,

an increase in our capacity to offer additional services such as landing gear overhaul, magneto overhaul and also the certification of additional aircraft types. One of the things we are working to ensure that our technicians are licensed, meaning, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority license. So we are trying to enhance and encourage our guys to obtain their license and we are making sure that that happens by conducting internal training through our superiors.

Avionics Room

The Roraima Aircraft Division commands a wealth of experience of over 100 years of maintenance and engineering experience put together and receives regular training programs to ensure that they are well equipped.

Britten-Norman Trislander 8R-GRD

For Charters call 222-4032

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Roraima/Dynamic relationship turns 3, hires 25

CEO’s Message The selected Flight Attendants in training at Duke Lodge on Friday June 2, 2017

This year Roraima is cele-

York route as well as destinations in China and other routes serviced brating our 25th anniversary.

by Dynamic.

Coincidentally The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Their training will commence on Guyana, (an organisation I led the June 12, 2017 and end on July 31, 2017. as its President for five of those years) is also marking its Roraima Airways' commitment to its continued contribution to the 25th anniversary. people of Guyana and to the deThe Roraima/ Dynamic Partvelopment of Guyana is firm and nership is marking this signifi- unwavering. cant milestone with the hiring Everyday our domestic planes are and training of an additionflying the skies across Guyana feral 25 young Guyanese to serve rying supplies and personnel in as cabin crew members for support of our mining and timber our Boeing 767. industries and while the nation sleeps at night, Roraima planes Roraima is pleased to be in piloted by highly trained, brave the forefront of job creation and skilful young pilots are refor our young Guyanese peosponding to pleas for help from ple. our people all across the hinterWe started with four memland. bers of staff in 1992, which included my wife Captain Deb- The calls come from the ministry of health 24 hours a day, most bie Gouveia and me. times in the dead of the night.

We now have approximately Our pilots and support staff are 300 young Guyanese doing awakened from the comfort of extraordinary things, opertheir homes to launch into the ating in our 16 divisions dark nights to save the life of a These flight attendants will child, a pregnant woman, and accioperate the Guyana / New dent victim somewhere deep and

high into the mountains of the Guyana hinterland.

We operate at least three to four emergency flights per week saving lives every night.

Our domestic airline operations are headed by my son Captain Gerry Gouveia Jr. Our planes are regularly taking tourists to visit the magnificent Kaieteur Falls while our boats are zipping along the dark waters of the Kamuni creek, taking visitors to the amazing Arrowpoint Nature Resort.

The legendary Wedding Expo is hosted right here at the Roraima Duke Lodge, one of our two boutique hotels where weddings, conferences and many other functions are held regularly.

The Roraima Residence Inn located in Bel Air Park is now host to scores of Cuban shoppers who arrive daily on Easy Sky flights out of Cuba. We now facilitate approximately 700 Cubans visitors arriving weekly on our flights to enjoy the experience of affordable shopping in Guyana.

(Turn to page 9)

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“Race to the Altar” 2017 couple Weds ————————————

Akeem Peter and Kerron Boston, winner of the “Race to the Altar” 2017 exchanged their marriage vows in the presents of a cheerful audience of relatives, friends and onlookers in the midst of Wedding Expo on March 25. The glamorous wedding was carried live via the National Communication Network channel 11 and facebook to over 100,000 viewers. The Wedding was sponsored by Roraima Duke Lodge, Kings Jewellery World, John Lewis Styles, Jays Designs, Quinn’s Limousine Services and twenty other businesses.

on Friday February 17, the couple emerged the winners of a $3M wedding in the Guyana Wedding Expo 2017 ‘Race to the Altar’ challenge, and the opportunity to become ambassadors of the national exposition which is now international brand in the Destination Wedding Tourism Industry.

“Akeem Peter and Kerron Boston demonstrated an outstanding commitment to each other, potential of good ambassadorship for and the public’s support made them this year’s winner”

- Sasha Persaud, Competition Judge

“Thank you so much and I must say that I have proven God, I’ve proven God… I’m so excited right now, I’m overjoyed,” the bride told the Guyana Chronicle. Her eyes lit up as she began to express gratitude to those who supported them. “I will just like to say thank you to everyone that supported us throughout this entire journey”.

The couple after they were announced winners on February 18

The Climb of Whitney Lawrence

and so today at 20 years old I can say I have done it. Roraima gave my the chance and I took it but this is not the end, I want to excel and one day I know I can be a pilot”.

Whitney Lawrence joined Roraima in September 2015 at the age of 18 as a Flight Operation Assistant where his life in the “I never thought I could have Aviation field started. His love made it to the title of an Aircraft for aviation climaxed during his Engineer but the more I worked enrollment at the Engineering and studied, it became possible School in 2003—2015.

However, as he put it, the opportunities that were afforded him at Roraima Airways gave him the incentives to persevere. On completion of his engineering schooling in 2016 as a trained Avionics Technician, he was promoted to the Avionics Department.

“At this time, I’m a grade three (3) Avionics Technician, I wish to become a type rated engineer so that can benefit the company as I progress”.

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Kaieteur Falls

Wedding Expo creates new era for Wedding Tourism in Guyana "Guyana has great potential to become an attractive wedding, honeymoon and special events destination given several of its attributes including its rich and diverse ethnic, religious and cultural mosaic; its exotic flora and fauna; its interesting heritage sites including Kaieteur Falls and St. George’s Cathedral and its overall uniqueness as a country.

This aspect of the tourism industry could be a major contributor to the Guyanese economy and to the sustained profitability of several private businesses.

$300 Billion annually. Worldwide, twenty- four percent (24%) of couples will have a combined household income of $120,000 or more and sixteen (16) percent of marriages are destination weddings.

Usually, guests visiting for weddings stay an average of four days, and the couple for seven.

Currently, the laws of Guyana require that couples be present in Guyana for an extended period of time prior to receiving a marriage license. The Government of Guyana is encouraged to revise these laws to facilitate development of this component of the tourism It will also assist in sustainable sector. These laws can be revised job creation,” says Joy Agness, proprietor of Joy Agness Events, while maintaining the checks and Inc. and a longstanding wedding balances to protect against marand special events planner based riage fraud. in Miami, Florida.

Wedding and special events destination tourism is a multi-billion -dollar industry. The destination wedding market accounts for

Book you events at Duke Lodge Call 227-2212

Mrs. Debra Dey owner of Executive Office Services, and veteran exhibitor.

“I have been on board with the Wedding Expo from the inception. I have noticed a significant jump in sales soon after participating in the event. I do appreciate the ambience at Duke Lodge.

I feel it’s very good exposure for

Debra Dey at her establishment

businesses because of the large numbers that visit. The crowd is from a wide cross-section of people. These large numbers of guests and exhibitors may lead the organizers to have to expand in the future and I’d look forward to that every year.”

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Roraima collaborates with GCAA to host Landmark training

GCAA, Roraima and ASL Officials

Senior Engineer, Mr. Grace demonstrates the Landing gear overhaul

Roraima Airways collaborated with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to provide landmark training to personnel in Guyana’s aviation sector. The first of its kind AP Precision Hydraulics (APPH) aircraft landing gear overhaul training program was launched on Monday June 12.

Speaking at the launch of the training program, GCAA’s Director of Air Safety Regulations, Captain C. Kirkcaldy hailed the collaboration which will see Guyana enhancing its capability for engineering safety in its aviation industry.

Roraima Airways in collaboration with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and Air Services Limited are hosting the first of its kind technical training at the Roraima Hangar at Eugene F. Correia International Airport. Officials of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Roraima Airways and Air Services were in attendance at this historic training event.

“It is the first time I’m participating in such collaboration and it is my pleasure to be a part of it because it will certainly enhance the capability for Aviation engineering safety in Guyana”, Captain Kirkcaldy said as he declared the training open.

He also hinted to more collaboration to come as new regulations for the Guyana’s domestic operations gets on the way that will involve the various entities operating at Ogle.

In delivering the opening remarks, Roraima’s Director of Operations, Captain Learie Barclay stated that, “It was the first time in my lifetime as an aviator that GCAA has actually paid a significant percentage for training.

GCAA would mandate the operators and they would have to fund their training. So this is a land mark opportunity to see GCAA collaborate to fund a historic training as this”.

The estimated cost for the training stands at British Pounds 17,000. This training according t

to Roraima’s Technical Supervisoror, Jason Farley will substantially reduce the maintenance cost for Roraima Airways. “Over the years the company would have expended as much as US$30,000 to overhaul one aircraft landing gear and we have an aircraft fleet of five (5) with each aircraft carrying three (3) gears. Landing gear overhaul is required every six years, however, circumstances may require detail inspection or overhaul in less than the required time due to landing on unprepared airstrips in the hinterland as is common is Guyana. So this training is worthwhile. It will enhance the technical competence of the maintenance team and it gives the Aircraft Maintenance Organization at Roraima the requisite approval by the GCAA to carry out certified landing gear overhaul”.

The training, which costs are being shared among the GCAA, Roraima and Air Services Limited, will last for four days at the Roraima Airways Hangar and will be facilitated by Senior Engineer of the Heroux Devtex Company of Great Britain, Mr. M. Grace.

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Roraima/Dynamic ...(From page 5) They are injecting approximately three Billon Guyana dollars yearly into our economy.

Our internationally approved Aircraft Maintenance organisation located at our facility at Ogle Airport is staffed by approximately 60 team members who are some of the most educated and experienced young aircraft engineers in the Caribbean.

Our ground handling and aviation security staff operating at the CJIA handle our New York and Cuba arrivals and departures daily while the staffs in our Executive Lounge is hosting hundreds of passengers weekly.

Our airline catering operates from our restaurant which is manned by Guyanese chefs and led by my son Kevin Gouveia who is a Canadian trained chef and pilot.

We are gearing up to begin operating daily flights between New York and Guyana in the very near future.

Daily they are preparing meals for our hotel guests, visitors to Duke Lodge as well as the Airline Catering for many VIP aircraft we handle operating into Guyana.

The day to day operations of the companies within the Roraima Group are managed by my wife Captain Debbie Gouveia and supported by a team of young managers for each division, 90% of whom are women.

Our partnership with Dynamic International Airways is now entering its 4th year and is growing from strength to strength.

In 2016, we operated 224 flights and moved approved 80,000 passengers with an 80% on time departure while continuing the stabilization of the ticket prices between New York and Guyana.

In 2017, we have so far operated approximately 100 flights and moved approximately 35,000 passengers with a 95% on time departure.

from page 5

Vanessa Singh, owner of Hot & Spicy Creole Corner/Mirage Banquet Hall

Effort

“On behalf of the Commission, I am grateful for Roraima Airways for its timely contribution.

What the Airline dare need of supplies”, would do is transport

Wedding Expo creates new era…

Vanessa and Ken Singh pose with President Granger at their Banquet Hall

Roraima aid in Region 8 flood relief ———————— Roraima Airways donated its Aircraft for the transport relief supplies to residence of Region 8 who were severely affected in the month of May by severe flooding in the region which drew praise from the Civil Defense Commission.

We are gearing up to begin operating daily flights between New York and Guyana in the very near future.

Dynamic International Airways is committed to the Guyanese market and is demonstrating this not only by operating the flights but by the crewing of the aircraft with Guyanese cabin attendants.

supplies to the most severely affected areas which are in the Deputy Director General of the Civil Defense Commission, Kester Craig commenting on the effort.

This is not the only time the Company has donated its resources to aid in relief efforts. In December 2016, Roraima sponsored the Airfare of two year old Omkar Persaud and his mother to Cuba so the lad could have undergone treatment for his diagnosed of Retinoblastoma.

“Last year was the Mirage Banquet Hall’s first time participating at Wedding Expo and I must say it was a success for my business. The amount of bookings I received as a result of the expo was overwhelming. I booked one booth at the Expo last year and this two I booked two booth spaces. Just as last year, this year I am optimistic things will work out for my business”

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Gouveia: Medevac’s a manageable risk

MEDICAL evacuation (Medevac) takes passion, determination, selflessness and a deep love; a willingness to risk it all.

When a man is most comfortable resting in his bed, and is called out to help a stranger hundreds of miles away, it takes sacrifice to get up. In the midst of getting out, he is walking out on everything he has worked to build and walking into the unknown, unsure of a safe return.

Captain Gerry Gouveia and a fleet of pilots with the Roraima Air Services brand take the risk as often as they receive the call to save a life in the distant hinterland, which lacks adequate access to medical care.

But as much as living for them is necessary, the former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) captain and current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Group of Companies said he has learnt, long ago as a member of the disbanded Guyana National Service (GNS), that it is vital to “put country before self.”

“When I went into National Service, they promised me…. They said that this National Service is going to evolve the new Guyana man; this National Service is going to make people put country before self… And I would say National Service succeeded…

“Throughout my life, my whole philosophy is to give back.

Every time we save a person’s life, the normal satisfaction we get from doing it is amazing,” Gouveia told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview.

The GDF taught him everything in medevac operations, he says, and while he was the last of such pilots in the 1980s, he resigned and started private operations, establishing Roraima.

The company’s name has become an inscription into the Ministry of Health’s medevac programme, and into the life stories of thousands saved just “in the nick of time”, as Gouveia puts it.

CONCERNS “Our search and rescue system is so bad that, if something does happen to our planes, we know that we are also in difficult time because the ability to respond…and get through it if you survive is so limited. They don’t have the kind of helicopters to come and get you if something goes wrong… They need to get the search and rescue system up and running. We need to get security for our runways, both physical security and fencing…the government needs to be able to appoint an airport or an airstrip manager on every runway,” Captain Gouveia said.

FLAMBEAU CHALLENGE Runways in the hinterland were, for decades, being lit by flambeau lamps, as the team collaborated with the villages in creating an illuminated landing atmosphere. Twenty of the lamps were placed on each side of the runway to guide pilots. It still happens, and it is challenging!

Gouveia told Guyana Chronicle, “Sometimes you get overhead and you see the flickering of these flambeau and then it rains and then the flambeau are all extinguished in the middle of the rain; or you line up to land on final approach and then it starts to rain and it outs the flambeau.”

At this time the pilot’s skills are put to the test, and “either you bite your lips and you keep the aircraft in a straight line, or you remember where you were going,” he said. Or the plane has to turn around and depart without a successful attempt to land.

WE ALWAYS TRY “In the military we did this, and we had a philosophy in the military that it did not matter if we landed or not.

The objective is to land, but what is more important is that the people all across Guyana must have the confidence that if they have a problem and they call, we will respond; and you will hear the plane overhead.

We must never be in a position where people would call and we say that we’re not going. If we come overhead and we can’t land, they will know that we tried,” Gouveia pointed out.

He said that though many aircraft operators may not want to risk their airplanes, the risk for Roraima is a manageable one.

“You have the pilots with the skills and ability to do it, and an operator that is prepared to risk his plane…

It’s a manageable risk; it’s not a reckless operation. A lot of operators don’t wanna risk (their) plane and pilot.”

- Jammott, S. “Gouveia: Medevac’s a Manageable risk”. Chronicle News 30 March 2016

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