More money will be spent on the upgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in 2019.
This was announced by the Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson, on Monday.
The move comes years after the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), which when in Opposition, had cut the funds the then Government – People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – had allocated for the CJIA expansion.
Ferguson made the comment while delivering the feature address at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School’s graduation and prize giving ceremony on Monday at the Eugene F. Correira International Airport.
According to the Minister, over $65 million will be spent on the airport to upgrade its technology to be able to track the weather, among other things.
“We would have just approved in excess of $65 million, which would now enable
Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson
the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority out at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Air Traffic controllers to ensure that a new mechanism is installed so we (will) be moving from manual settings to a more digital setting,” she noted.
It was further explained that the new technology will even help pilots to track the weather patterns to make better landing decisions.
Earlier in the year, the Ministry had sought more than $346 million in supplementary funding to cater for two air bridges and see the project to completion.
Upon completion, the airport is expected to have four air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures; a 450-seat Departure area, escalators and elevators in addition to an extended runway catering for larger categories of aircraft.
In 2012, Guyana, under the PPP Administration had secured a US$138 million loan from the China Exim (Export-Import) Bank to fund the expansion and modernisation project, for which the Guyana Government has injected some US$12 million.
However, when the coalition Government came in to power in 2015, the project was put on hold, but following discussions between Public Infrastructure and the contracting company, China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), it was announced that the project would be continued.
So far, the new arrival and departure sections have been opened to passengers.
The new arrivals terminal, which became operational in September, has already been commended by passengers. The outstanding work includes placement of hoardings (billboards) and striping of the runway (to reduce the risk of aircraft over-shooting the runway, or over-flying during take-off). The striping can only be done after the laying of asphaltic concrete once the runway is completed.
Further, when the project is completed, other minor works will be done during the one-year defects and liability period, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson said.
Just recently, the aviation sector was able to gain a 20 per cent improvement and currently stands at 64 per cent compliance in the sector. The announcement of the achievement was highlighted at opening of the Air Transport Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Center. (Davina Ramdass)
