Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 05, 2014 News
– say administration fearful staff will quit with accreditation
By Zena Henry
Almost five months after the local aviation authority announced that eight new Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) received certification to assume tower control at the Ogle and Cheddi Jagan International Airports, the controllers say they are yet to be accredited and they believe that the administration is intentionally withholding their documents.
The ATCOs completed various training courses that were being offered over a two-year period. They are trained to maintain the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic within the country’s air traffic control system. It is their view, however, that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is gravely concerned that workers will quit the job as soon as they are provided with their official approval.
In June, the GCAA had announced that after completing two years of training, eight Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) were certified to operate at the country’s two major airports. A press release had spoken of how well the ATCOs performed during the training course and how the organization was impressed with the “zest and professionalism demonstrated by the new batch.”
However, the following day, irate ATCOs had contacted the publication refuting that they had been certified. They claimed that they were not receiving the salary and benefits entitled to them. One of the ATCOs who requested anonymity told the publication that despite being trained and qualified to operate in the field, they were not being acknowledged.
The controller explained that the officers were receiving salaries as assistants rather than ATCOs. It was explained further that the eight persons had finished their training in December of 2013, and had been functioning unsupervised since January of this year.
It was stated that the officers had also been appointed temporarily. They complained about being issued their work licences two months after starting their training, when they were supposed to have been issued in a matter of 14 days.
They further claimed that there was no discussion based on the inconsistencies in what was agreed upon. Despite letters being dispatched to the GCAA pertaining to the dues of the ATCOs, the matter had not been addressed and no official word was given the officers had claimed.
However, the ATCOs say they are now functioning under the correct pay, but are still not accredited. While there was also talk about what was claimed to be benefits due to the ATCOs based on their position, head of the GCAA Zulficar Mohamed said that the workers will receive all that is due to them.
During a telephone interview with Mohamed yesterday, Kaieteur News was informed that there are plans to equip the ATCOs with their certification next month.
“There is a proposal for them (ATCOs) to receive their certificates in December,” the Director General explained. He told the publication that ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Day is held in December and the Authority is seeking to make the presentations then.
When asked about concerns of staffers leaving the job following receipt of their qualifications, Mohamed said that he believes that if a staffer wants to leave they will do so at anytime. He mentioned, however, that while the Authority is not basing any decisions on that possibility, the issue of workers leaving the job after receiving their qualification is a matter of concern. He noted that so far two ATCOs have already left the job and it would not be farfetched that workers would have wanted their certificates.
One of the ATCOs told Kaieteur News that while their salary has been brought up to date with their position, many persons are still very concerned about being accredited. He said that the ATCOs are still unclear as to why the certificates have not been issued.
Kaieteur News was told that the ATCOs completed the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) course, but no document to say they are qualified as AIS officers was issued. They say they had to wait some three months before they received licences following the aerodromes and approach control course, and another nine months before being paid accordingly.
The ATCOs say they operate under essential services and believe that there are certain benefits due to them. They say however that their concerns continue to be ignored.
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