Dear Editor,
I am the Operations Inspector that Minister Benn referred to at his press conference that left his job in the 3 months probation period.
1. I was hired as a GCAA Operations Inspector under the following conditions:
2. I would undergo ATPL training at my own expense
3. After joining I would be sent to IATA Singapore for further training
I would stay current as a pilot because GCAA would let me fly
I took my leave from Air Services Limited, and did the required ATPL training and paid G$1,200,000 out of my own pocket.
Upon returning I started working for the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), on the contracted date with my ATPL certificate. Nothing was prepared; I was sharing a cramped office with K. Prasad, no computer, not even a desk with drawers and basic stationery. Mr. K. Prasad used my desk as his personal vault locking the drawers full with his files. Mr. K. Prasad was not informed of my employment and was behaving very irritatingly.
The course in Singapore did not materialise due to paperwork which was filled out late and was incomplete. I researched myself on my own laptop an inspector course that could be done as soon as possible. GCAA paid for the course and a stipend for hotel, transport and meals. I stayed in Oklahoma for over 3 weeks, I used some of my own money to fund my stay and handed over all the course materials to GCAA. Upon returning to Guyana I did not receive my salary. My Guyana ATPL licence was never issued by GCAA. As a result my pilot licence had lapsed after I had invested G$1,200,000 to be current. I got some on the job training from RASOS and I was informed of performing satisfactorily. I was present on the inspections of local operators at Ogle and of the GDF helicopter. I brought conditions 2, 3 and not receiving salary (6 weeks) to the attention of the directors of GCAA. I had a final meeting with the directors without a resolution of my working conditions.
Efforts were even made via Mr. F. Khan who contacted Prime Minister Hinds, who arranged for me to meet with Minister Benn. No meeting nor telephone conversation was granted.
Financially my situation was getting out of hand and it was also hurting my family in Guyana. Legal advice was sought and I opted to end the contract within the 3 months probation period.
So the cost of an Operation Inspector is:
– G$1,200,000 loss of money
– 6 weeks of salary
– More salary loss, airline ticket due to relocation and finding a new job in India
– As a result my family broke up
For the people of Guyana:
– The loss of a pilot training school in Guyana
– Millions of dollars of investment by Air Services Limited in flight school facilities, aircraft and manuals
– The cost of training an Inspector who was never allowed to perform his duties.
I also have to say that I did not abscond from my job or from Guyana. I resigned and having waited for over a week to see Mr. Benn, I left peacefully via a scheduled airline. I even returned to Guyana in 2007 for a holiday and spent about 2 weeks, arriving and leaving legitimately and moving around openly with my friends.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Sicora
