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President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressing the residents at the Bartica Community Centre Ground

Minister of Culture, Youths and Sports Charles Ramson Jr delivering his debate on the bill in the National Assembly on Friday

neil@newsroom.gy

 

Guyana’s 65-seat legislature late Friday night agreed to sweeping changes to the law governing aviation in the country, saying these are needed for national security and public safety.

Among the changes to the law is for the authorities to be able to intercept aircraft flying illegally over Guyana’s territory and for there to be “no fly zones” to restrict or prohibit aircraft of other countries from flying over certain areas.

“I know some of us may say, ‘Well, we’re not there yet,’ but we’re looking into the future and we have to be able to get those (provisions) in place,” said Juan Edghill, the minister who oversees the aviation sector.

He made no references to any country or situation, but there have been brazen moves on the western front, with Venezuela growing more and more pompous in its claim to two thirds of Guyanese territory – shifting from rhetoric to a referendum, and then last month a law seeking to annex the Essequibo region. The Guyana/Venezuela border line was drawn in accordance with a legally binding arbitral award of 1899 and the World Court last December ruled that the boundary line should not be altered unless it determines otherwise in the border case before it.

Guyana has been beefing up defense cooperation with its allies, including the United States. Just Thursday, two U.S. Navy aircraft, F/A-18F Super Hornets, flew over Georgetown in what the U.S. Embassy said was part of “routine security operation” that coordinated and approved by the Guyana Army.

All 16 amendments Edghill proposed to the 2018 aviation law were detailed in the new Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2024 and passed by the National Assembly two hours before midnight. He gained the full support of the opposition in a rare show of unity in a House usually vehemently opposed to each other.

President Irfaan Ali is expected to sign the changes into law soon and Edghill will outline all the regulations in detail as early as next week.

So, what does the new Bill say?

The Bill states “The pilot-in-command of any aircraft, when in flight over the territory of Guyana, shall comply with any marshalling signal, interception order or maneuver” as directed by Guyanese authorities.

These orders would be in accordance with the Chicago Convention, which is international agreement that established the rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, and details regarding international air travel. Compliance with the Convention is managed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Further, the new Bill states that Guyana would reserve the right to restrict or prohibit an aircraft of other State from flying over certain areas of its territory.

“I’m sure all of us know there what is called restricted or no fly zones – you can’t fly within a certain distance of the (U.S.) White House, you can’t fly within a certain distance of the Pentagon. And these are all outlined, and everybody ought to know. So that Guyana (with the new law) would also be in a position to issue those instructions,” Edghill stated.

Anyone who breaches the interception orders could be fined $5 million or be jailed for five years.

Where there is failure to comply and the matter goes to court, the Bill makes provision for the authorities to accept the defense, once it could be clearly established, that the pilot-in-command “believed on reasonable grounds that compliance with the marshalling signal, interception order or manoeuvre would be more likely to endanger the safety of the aircraft or of persons on board the aircraft than would a failure to comply with the marshalling signal, interception order or manoeuvre.”

The changes to the 2018 legislation are among measures Guyana is taking ahead of an upcoming audit by ICAO and civil aviation authorities are hoping for a good grade.

 

Millicent Mary Frank is fondly called ‘Aunty Milly’

Among the items she made to sell were cassava pone and channa; she also sold a variety of fruits including mangoes. The story of this resourceful woman, who always wanted to become a teacher, began in the house she still calls home over a 100 years ago.

She attended St. Mary’s Primary before having to abruptly and reluctantly leave school in Sixth Standard or what is now known as Grade Six due two main factors.

One, her grandmother being unable to afford a literature textbook requested by the school and two, the influence of a male family friend who felt it was a waste of time to educate girls.

Disappointed but not deterred, during her teenage life, she developed skills in sewing, gardening and cooking. In fact, she loves plants and cooking and, arguably, makes the best ginger beer, a skill she learned from her grandmother.

Aunty Milly has been married twice; the first at 18 years old to Gladston Wood, which lasted approximately four years and produced three children- Angela Wood, Winston Wood and Anita Wood- while her second marriage lasted over 10 years until her husband passed on.

Her two daughters became educators; one a former Head Teacher and the other, a professor and her son who resides in Linden. Her first marriage was to a man 17 years her senior and was a result of her honouring her grandmother’s wishes.

Millicent Mary Frank (centre) during one of her many overseas sojourns

After the first marriage dissolved, her grandmother took the lead to financially take care of her and children.

It was during her second marriage she ventured into school vending and quickly developed long-lasting relationships with the teachers and students of the school who enjoyed the goodies she prepared with love.

“The teachers and students were nice. After a time, I had to make a separate bowl of channa and cassava pone for them as they used to complain when my things were sold before they arrived,” she fondly reminisced with a chuckle.

However, as much as she enjoyed the experience, she stopped vending at the request of one of her daughters who, by that time, had become professionally independent.

This led her into the most rewarding aspect of her life- discovering and living her Christian faith.

Millicent Mary Frank would like to be remembered as a woman of faith who inspired people to live a holy life pleasing to God

“Growing up, I believe in the existence of God but I didn’t know him personally. I used to listen to the radio programme “Christ Is The Answer”. (Someone) had a radio and I used to stand up and listen to the programme and that was the first time I heard about being saved. I went to the Central Baptist Church on Brickdam where I learned more about this.”

It was this journey which led her to be baptised in 1978 at the Central Baptist Church where she was a member for a number of years; realized her dream of becoming a teacher, al biet, a Sunday School teacher; a choir member; travelled to Canada, Korea and the USA and catapulted her to serve in multiple leadership positions.

“God really used me there. I was pushed to various offices…I started teaching Sunday School and later became the President of the Women’s group and after that, as years went by, they called me in the Convention. The Convention was where you represented all the women groups of the church. All the church’s pastors were members, so I represented every year and provided updates of the work done during the year. I was in that office for seven years,” she explained.

The soft-spoken Aunty Milly said she was happy and overwhelmed to become a Sunday school teacher. She felt overwhelmed because she was not trained as a teacher. However, she was encouraged and continuously supported by her predecessor.

This, coupled with her faith, has helped her to enjoy serving. In fact, she said one of her favourite bible verses is Psalm 121 and felt it was God speaking directly to her in many circumstances:

“Many times when something is worrying me, I pray or reach out to pastor. When I was called to function at the Convention, I used to cry out to God and he did answer me. Sometimes I have a programme to do, I get help. Sometimes even during sleep, a Word (scripture) comes, or it comes through somebody else. He is a faithful God.”

It was in 1998 she visited and subsequently became a member of DHM.

“It was at Dominion Household Ministries (DHM) where I’ve developed more understanding and gain clarity about the teachings of the Bible. I really experienced God’s power, love and presence and had the ability to freely express through worship.”

When asked about her most treasured memories, she said motherhood and her years of service in the church, including participating in the first Christian medium-costumed band with DHM in 2000.

This resilient lady said she would like to be remembered as a woman of faith who inspired people to live a holy life pleasing to God.

“We have to acknowledge there is a God. We must pray for each other and pray for the country. We must also pray for the people watching over the borders to enable them to know that it’s God watching with them.”

While she never thought of living to a century, when asked if she would have lived differently had she known she would have had longevity of life, Aunty Milly said: “I don’t think so. The way I grew up, I had inside of me a wanting to know God. My daughter was the first who brought salvation (to the home); she had invited me to church. When God was ready for me, he opened my eyes…”

The grandmother of two- Dawn and Keith Bernard- has words of wisdom for this generation.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything will be added to you. Be patient and pray even while you’re waiting. Be obedient to the Word and don’t be distracted by the world. God wants all his children to have a rich relationship with him.”