The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has secured a seat on the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP), a first for the country in global aviation regulation.

According to a release, the appointment took effect July 28, 2026, and places Guyana among the qualified technical experts who help ICAO craft, update and refine policies governing the economic and legal regulation of international air transport.

GCAA Director General Lt. Col. (Ret'd) Egbert Field said the appointment marks a pivotal opportunity for Guyana to contribute more to global air transport regulation.

"Our request to join this panel dates to 2019, but ICAO ATRP now sees it as appropriate to appoint us. In this role, Guyana can advocate for policies and contribute to innovative, collaborative solutions that strengthen connectivity and aviation development worldwide," Field said.

GCAA Deputy Director General Dr Saheed Sulaman has been named Guyana's representative on the panel. He currently sits on the CARICOM Technical Negotiating Team on Air Services, chairs the Association of Caribbean States' Special Committee on Transport and serves as an ICAO Global Ambassador.

The release noted that the appointment aligns with President Dr Irfaan Ali's 10-Pillar National Aviation Policy, which aims to position Guyana as a premier regional aviation hub and strengthen connectivity across the region.

Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar said the achievement reflects sustained government effort across the aviation sector.

"These accomplishments are the sum total and impact of the hard work of the Government and what we are doing. The achievements in development within the aviation sector in Guyana are outstanding; across the entire aviation ecosystem, there is growth. Our representation at the regional and global level is not accidental but the result of diligent, targeted effort, vision and leadership," Indar noted.