(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Mr. Anthony Archer, Director, Civil Aviation, Barbados, and outgoing Acting Chairman of the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight System (RASOS) was Wednesday elected Chairperson of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS).

Mr. Ramesh Lutchmedial, Director General, Civil Aviation of Trinidad and Tobago, was elected Vice Chairperson.

The elections of office holders for two years, were held at the first Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Directors of CASSOS at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana, and followed the launch earlier in the day of the new institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) by the Hon Samuel Hinds, Prime Minister of Guyana.

In brief remarks after his election, Mr. Archer stressed the volume of work that had to be done and said it was imperative that CASSOS had full support to carry out its functions effectively.

CASSOS replaced RASOS, which was an informal arrangement. Its objectives are to help Caribbean countries to meet their obligations of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) by achieving full compliance with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The development and harmonization of civil aviation regulations is also a key objective of CASSOS. Its mandate also includes the mobilization of financial and other resources from the international aviation and donor community and government agencies to support its activities.

It will provide, on request, technical guidance to participating states on all matters within its competence relating to civil aviation.

Prior to the First Board Meeting, presentations were made by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the United States Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Security Administration FAA/TSA and RASOS.