Bids open for financing, construction of Lethem regional airport – PM Phillips

– reaffirms Govt’s commitment to community’s growth, integration

Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Tuesday announced that bids have been opened for the construction, financing, ownership, and management of the new Lethem regional airport, which will span 2000 hectares.
He was at the time addressing a gathering in observance of the 10th anniversary of Lethem as a township under the theme “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Lethem’s Multicultural Community”.

The Lethem airport will be a major Government-backed investment aimed at strengthening trade, tourism and cross-border connectivity with Brazil. The project is expected to attract both domestic and diaspora investment.
According to the PM, this will be one of 11 new tourism-related projects for the region, while referencing ongoing investment in transportation infrastructure such as the Linden-Lethem Road, which includes the replacement of old wooden bridges with modern concrete structures.
These initiatives, he noted, will boost the aviation, tourism, agro-processing, and healthcare sectors, thereby raising the standard of living, creating jobs, and strengthening communities.
He, however, reaffirmed that the full upgrade of the Linden-Lethem corridor remains a priority while stating that future plans include road and rail connections linking Lethem directly to the coast to boost national integration and trade expansion.
“Together, these initiatives align with the national vision of transforming Lethem into a major economic and travel hub. It is no longer just a border town but an important link in Guyana’s expanding network of commerce, tourism, and opportunity.”
However, he noted that the Government remains committed to partnering with regional and local stakeholders to further Lethem’s development as a major economic and cultural centre in Guyana’s hinterland.
He praised the residents for preserving their rich traditions while embracing new opportunities created through national policy while reflecting on the community’s transformation over the years, “Lethem has evolved from a remote frontier settlement into a more connected centre, serving ranching, cross-border trade, indigenous communities, and now, broader national infrastructure.”
He added, “Today, Lethem stands at the threshold of a new era. With ongoing investments in infrastructure, tourism, and trade, it is rapidly emerging as a vast economic hub that connects Guyana’s hinterland to the region and, by extension, the world.”
Speaking on the broader development agenda, PM Phillips highlighted the Government’s deliberate strategy to extend national progress beyond the coast to the hinterland, ensuring inclusive and equitable growth.
“Policies aimed at integrating the hinterland with the coast and neighbouring countries have opened up markets, broadened opportunities, and raised the prospect of sustainable regional development. When connectivity improves, so do opportunity and inclusion.”
He pointed to the growing presence of financial and institutional services in Lethem as further evidence of its integration into the national economy. Notably, he highlighted the opening of a branch of Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Companies.
“The opening of a branch of Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Companies marks another milestone, bringing essential financial and risk management services to residents and businesses. Local entrepreneurs and families can now access the kind of institutional support needed to invest, grow, and build resilience.”
Nevertheless, he encouraged the residents to take ownership of their community’s continued progress.
“You have in Lethem both heritage and promise. Your traditional values – community, service, the land, the savannah – are assets. As you engage with modernity, hold tight to those values. Let them guide how you build your town, how you shape your economy, and how you raise your children.”
Meanwhile, he stated Lethem has moved from being at the edge of the country to being at the heart of a vision.
“Your anniversary is an invitation to honour your past, embrace your present, and seize your future. You have a town that stands at a border yet looks to many horizons. That is your strength. You have people rooted in the savannah yet open to the world. That is your advantage.”