Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar has called for stronger regional cooperation, harmonised regulations and sustained investment in technical capacity as Caribbean states work to strengthen aviation safety and resilience.

The aviation minister made the call on Thursday at the opening of the Caribbean High-Level Symposium on Aviation Safety at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Georgetown.

He said the Caribbean must move beyond individual national efforts and establish stronger mechanisms for collective action.

“No country can meet these challenges alone. Cooperation must become a working arrangement. Shared expertise, stronger pathways, timely exchange of safety information,” the minister noted.

He pointed to the pressures facing aviation authorities, including limited technical personnel, financing constraints, specialist capacity gaps, and differences in regulations and procedures.

At the same time, emerging aircraft technologies, digital systems, artificial intelligence, evolving security risks and climate-related events are creating new demands for regulators and testing the resilience of aviation infrastructure.

Minister Indar said the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) can play an important role in strengthening regional oversight and supporting more consistent implementation of international aviation standards.

Guyana currently chairs CASSOS for the 2026 to 2028 term.

The minister said the country intends to use the position to advance compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards.

The symposium is also examining the proposed CASSOS Roadmap and Action Matrix to 2035, the sustainability of civil aviation authorities, regulatory harmonisation and air transport services within CARICOM.

Participants are expected to consider the financing, implementation arrangements and responsibilities required to translate the roadmap into measurable action.

Meanwhile, Minister Indar also outlined Guyana’s ongoing investments in aviation infrastructure, including the modernisation of nearly 60 interior airstrips and the expansion of the country’s international gateway, supported by an additional US$65 million in funding.

He, however, stressed that infrastructure must be matched by strong human and institutional capacity.

“Infrastructure alone does not deliver safety. It must be matched by capable people, sound oversight, dependable data, and institutions’ preparedness to adapt,” he said.

The deliberations are expected to support a Georgetown Declaration on Aviation Safety and a roadmap of priority actions aimed at strengthening cooperation, oversight and capacity across the Caribbean.

The one-day symposium, convened by the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with ICAO, brings together ministers responsible for aviation, senior officials, regional institutions and international partners to advance practical measures to improve aviation safety across the Caribbean.