Georgetown, Guyana — Guyana moved on Tuesday to systematically build its future aviation workforce with the launch of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Plus (NGAP+) Programme, a government-backed initiative aimed at training and certifying Guyanese across the full spectrum of aviation careers.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, delivering the feature address at Pegasus Corporate Suites, said the programme responds directly to the country’s rapidly expanding air-transport sector and the growing demand for qualified, disciplined professionals.
Under the initiative, Guyanese will be trained in key fields including piloting, aircraft engineering, air traffic control, aviation safety, ground handling, and freight and logistics. President Ali underscored that future pilots will no longer need to look overseas to earn their qualifications, noting that certification and professional development will now be available locally.
As experienced aviation personnel transition into regulatory and oversight roles, the President said significant vacancies are emerging across operational areas, creating both opportunity and urgency. Preparing a new cadre of professionals, he added, is essential as aviation activity intensifies.
Guyana’s expanding aviation footprint—driven by increased international connections and deeper domestic penetration into hinterland regions—has made human-capacity development a national priority. President Ali told attendees that air transport is central to the government’s strategy of inclusive development, ensuring that no region is isolated from economic and social progress.
The NGAP+ Programme is a partnership involving the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), International Air Cadets Training Limited of the United Kingdom, the Air Cadets of Guyana, and the University of Guyana. The President said the collaboration brings together global expertise and local institutional strength to build a sustainable pipeline of aviation professionals.
The launch comes alongside major aviation infrastructure investments, including a new terminal at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the upgrading of airports at Lethem and Rose Hall into regional hubs, and ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of hinterland airstrips nationwide.
Addressing the programme’s first cohort of cadets and students, President Ali stressed that aviation demands precision and discipline, reminding them that safety and accuracy are non-negotiable in the sector. Their training, he said, will shape how Guyana connects internally and with the world for decades to come.
The NGAP+ Programme is expected to play a central role in aligning Guyana’s human capital with the pace of its economic and aviation-sector growth.
(Extracted and modified from DPI)