Pilot with Pomeroon roots aims to serve his homeland

While Guyana is noted for its brain drain, 23-year-old Michael Yearwood is one of the few young people who is enthusiastic about returning to live and work in his homeland.

Pursuing his commercial pilot license in Trinidad, Yearwood, who is also an award-winning University of the West Indies (UWI) graduate, is already looking for opportunities in Guyana.

“I love Guyana and I have always planned on coming back someday,” Yearwood stated in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, emphasizing his desire to significantly contribute to his homeland, instead of pursuing opportunities abroad.

Yearwood resides in Freeport, Trinidad, but was born in Georgetown. His parents divorced when Yearwood was just three-years-old. His mother later remarried, and the family subsequently migrated to Canada when Yearwood was eight. After living there for about seven years, the family returned to the Caribbean, but settled in Trinidad, where Yearwood advanced his education.

Some of his fondest memories of Guyana were spent on a Pomeroon farm owned by his grandparents, Jumrattan and the late John Dennis Gildharie of Jacklow. And when his 82-year-old grandmother was at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, to welcome him on his inaugural flight to Guyana in May 2017.

The pilot usually flies throughout Trinidad, to Tobago and Grenada, and while training in the United States earlier last year, he flew to several states.

The young man holds a Private Pilot License (PPL) with Instrument Rating Add on from the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA-TT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA-USA).

He secured the TTCA license while training part-time at the BRIKO Flight School in Trinidad during his final year studying at UWI. He later secured the FAA license at the American Flyers Flight School in Ft. Lauderdale. He is now in the final stages of commercial pilot training at the Aerial World Services Limited in Trinidad.

UWI Awardee

Last year, Yearwood graduated from UWI with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Major) with Biology (Minor) and Analytical Chemistry (Minor). He was awarded the Cheryl Bowles Prize for the Best Final Year Student Project in Analytical Chemistry. His research was based on the cancer-causing parabens in hand sanitizers.  Previously, he completed a two-year CAPE Diploma.

“My plan includes obtaining a job as soon as I am qualified, and to pursue higher ratings on as many different types of aircraft as possible.  I dream of one day being the Captain of an Airbus A380 which is the largest Commercial aircraft carrier,” Yearwood said.

The talented young man was inspired to become a pilot while in his final year at UWI, when his mother related a conversation she had with a T&T Air Guard.

“I enrolled at BRIKO Flight School under one condition: I had to maintain good grades and finish my BSc. at UWI or my parents threatened to stop paying for flight school,” Yearwood recalled.

‘Be positive’

When not flying, Yearwood enjoys playing guitar and keyboard. He also continues to volunteer, which he has been doing since high school.

“I was taught to be humble, kind and generous. Giving monetarily and volunteering my time to helping others is a part of me.  I especially love teaching and sharing knowledge,” Yearwood noted.

He has on several occasions participated in charitable events benefiting children and young people.

 “My mom is my biggest role model.  She is the epitome of positivity.  From growing up on a farm in the Pomeroon River to becoming the woman she is today, mom taught me that you can achieve anything in life by working hard, being humble and positive,” Yearwood expressed.

His advice for other young people: “Let your parents guide you.  They have maturity, experience and wisdom.  Also, read, any and everything.  Young people need to know that we all have the ability to achieve anything we set our minds to. But, be prepared to do the necessary work, and be patient. Most importantly, put God first.”