New Aviation Bill for Parliament early 2017

The Aviation sector will in the New Year see several improvements and additions.

Replacing the Civil Aviation Act of 2000, the draft Aviation Bill 2016 will be tabled in the  National Assembly early in 2016. This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during a Post- Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

Minister Harmon noted that the draft Bill “will bring Guyana’s Aviation Law into greater conformity with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Authority.”

The Minister of State explained that the Bill, which contains 149 sections and divided into 22 parts, was posted to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) website for the public and stakeholders to offer comments and suggestions, several weeks prior. Minister Harmon added that the draft Bill offers provision for air navigation services by a separate unit within the GCAA.

The GCAA, formerly the Civil Aviation Department in the Ministry of Public Works and Communications was established in March 2002 as a result of the Civil Aviation Act 2000 being approved by Parliament.

The main law governing the air transport sector is the Civil Aviation Act (2000) along with these Regulations made under the Act: Civil Aviation (Air Navigation) Regulations 2001, Air Transport (Licencing of Air Transport Services) Regulations 2001, the Civil Aviation (Security) Regulation 2004 and the Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Services and Rules of the Air) Regulations 2006.

In the aviation sector, Minister Harmon also disclosed that Cabinet has also granted its no objection to contract that would see the construction of an airstrip in Aramata located in the Cuyuni mining district. The project will be completed by innovative mining Inc.