INTERVIEW: RORAIMA GROUP
CONNECTED COMMUNITY Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Captain Gerry Gouveia Jr., Director of Roraima Group, about medevac flights, eco-projects, and investing in the local people. By Izzy Moss Roraima Group, a family-owned Guyanese tourism, hospitality, and travel-supply company, was established in 1992 by the husband-and-wife team of Captain Gerald and Captain Debra Gouveia. At the time, the domestic and regional charter airline operated out of the back room of the Gouveia’s house. Today, Roraima Group is still run by the Gouveia family, joined by the founders’ two sons, Captain Gerald Jr. (Gerry) and Captain Kevin Gouveia, and over 360 staff members. As Roraima Group grew, the company evolved from flying charter aircraft in support of the mining industry to developing tourist destination products. “For example, with Kaieteur Falls here in Guyana, the largest single drop waterfall in the world at 741 feet, we do tourist flights over the waterfall as well as all of the major hinterland resorts,” says Captain Gerry Gouveia Jr., Director of Roraima Group. “The company also runs Guyana’s first eco-resort, 24 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Arrowpoint, which has been in operation for almost 15 years as a commercial entity located in the Amerindian village of Santa Aratack. It’s a private partnership with the indigenous community to develop a sustainable eco-resort in their reservation.” ESSENTIAL SERVICES Today, Roraima Group has 14 divisions, spanning a range of services across the aviation and travel industries. “Our operations range from private jet handling, airline ground handling, catering, aviation security,