‘A true a patriot’ – friends mourn passing of renowned Guyanese engineer

The Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) has learnt with deep regret of the passing of Eng. David Klautky AA, BSc (Hons), PhD, MICE, FGAPE.

‘Doc’ as he was familiarly called was one of Guyana’s leading Structural Engineers and possessed a fine intellect. David started his career as a Site Engineer with Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co. Ltd. England while studying for this Bachelor of Science degree in London.

After being awarded his Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Structural Engineering from The City University in London, United Kingdom in 1968 for his thesis Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Laminated Timber Beams, he worked briefly as a Design Engineer with the consulting engineering firm of Maples, Ridgeway & Partners, London before returned to Guyana in 1969 to become a lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Technology, University of Guyana.

In 1971 he took the bold step of starting his own consulting engineering firm, David Klautky & Associates Ltd., something unheard of at the time and remained its Principal until his passing.

Like many of his fellow engineers of that era, he was a true nationalist and patriot and had an unshakeable view of the ability of Guyanese engineers ‘to do it for ourselves’.

During his long and outstanding career of over five decades, he worked on a number of important projects: the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) Agricultural Development Project, the Guyana-Suriname Ferry Project; the design and construction of the Multilateral Schools and many other schools throughout the country; the New Georgetown Hospital Complex; the Kingston Wing of the Pegasus Hotel; timber double-decker stands at Bourda; the Banks DIH Housing Scheme at Houston; the Paper Recycling Plant at Farm EBD; numerous commercial buildings including the Bank of Baroda, Demerara Bank, Republic Bank, GBTI, the new Lands and Surveys Building Durban Backlands and many others.

He was also the Structural Engineer for the plinth of the 1763 Monument.

He designed two 100ft clear-span timber truss hangers for the Guyana Defence Force at Timehri and for Air Services Ltd. at Ogle, engineering feats which have remained unsurpassed to date.

For his service to Guyana in the field of engineering, he was awarded a Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA).

Eng. Klautky was one of the early and very active members of GAPE, joining the organization in 1971, and remained a member throughout his life. He was elevated to the highest category of membership, that of a Fellow of GAPE in 1983.

While GAPE mourns the loss of Eng. Klautky we also celebrate his life and are grateful for the contributions he has made to the development of our country.

GAPE expresses its sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in eternal peace.

Eng. Stuart E.B. Hughes

Chairman, Interim Management Committee (IMC)

Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE)