GA 2000 leaves on inaugural flight
After ten hectic weeks of preparation, the country's privatised national carrier GY 532 managed and operated by Guyana Airways (GA) 2000 yesterday took to the skies at exactly 1345 hrs, some one hour and 35 minutes after its scheduled noon departure to New York. As the wheels of the Airbus A300 lifted of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, ground staff of the newly-formed company, visitors and others lustily applauded. It was a relief to those on the ground waiting for the aircraft to take off and the first batch of travellers, including Chairman of the Board of Directors, business magnate Yesu Persaud, four government ministers, members of the press, a number of invitees and passengers. They had begun boarding at 1155 hrs and were aboard the aircraft sweating it out, as was evident when some members of the press appeared at the door of the VIP cabin almost an hour later minus the ties and suits with which they had boarded. The delay of the inaugural flight, Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Mekdeci, told Stabroek News was due to the loss of the computerised passengers and cargo manifests, during a power outage which hit the airport shortly before the boarding of the aircraft. This had to be redone and given to the authorities on board before the flight could leave. Prior to the boarding of the aircraft, the official launching ceremony and the symbolic cutting of the ribbon was done. Prime Minister Sam Hinds was ably assisted by Persaud and the new airline's Senior Cabin Attendant Carol Primus. Among the guests at the airport ceremony were executives of other airlines operating in Guyana including Area Manager of BWIA, Dawn Murray; the North American Airlines representative in Guyana; Air Caribbean representative, Annette Arjoon. Also present were former manager of the defunct Guyana Airways Corporation, Jennifer DeBarros and a number of other persons from the business community. Pleasant cabin attendants adorned the female guests with red carnations, which matched their colourful red uniforms. Their colours sealed the occasion as a red-letter day for the newly-established company. Among those who boarded the flight for New York were Minister of Transport, Anthony Xavier; Information Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj; and Public Service Minister, George Fung-On. The ceremony which preceded the take-off had an air of gaiety and expectation as the many visitors partook of cocktails to the background music of the Roy Geddes Steel Orchestra. For GA 2000 all's well that ends well. While the official ceremony was still underway, an overhanging cloud burst forth "showers of blessings," some guests said. One guest predicted that as soon as the aircraft was about to take off the sun would come out. And it did. The aircraft is due to return today. (Miranda La Rose) 
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