Govt pushes through $346M in supplemental funding

CJIA expansion

– despite promises of no additional funds being required

Even though assurances were given by officials that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project would not attract more costs, the Government was on Friday able to push through over $346 million in supplemental financing for the project.
During the consideration of Financial Paper # Two, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, had to defend the supplemental allocation. According to Patterson, the new arrival terminal is likely to be opened in June.
“In a few weeks, we will be opening sections of the airport, so this is our last chance to make any artistic adjustments. The departure lounges we saw downstairs will be opened for use next week. Progressively, we will put one airline there from next week…and if everything is perfect, we will move all the others there,” Patterson said.
Patterson had stated, “The Minister of Citizenship, the airport authorities and the Ministers of Public Telecommunications and Business are seeking bids for automated kiosks for to scan your passport and (cause you to) go directly to immigration.”
Patterson was staunchly grilled by the parliamentary Opposition, who raised concerns about changes in the airport design. According to the Financial Paper, “The additional resources are required to facilitate the purchase and installation of two additional boarding bridges for the CJIA Expansion Project.”
At the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s end-of-year press conference in 2017, CJIA Expansion Project Manager Carmichael Thorne had sought to assuage worry that the extension would include an increase in the total sum to be expended on that project.
Thorne had stated that this will not be the case, adding, “It is a time-only extension, so there is no cost attached to it…but the other issues are catered for in the contract.”
The US$150 million project was scheduled to be completed within 32 months of its commencement in 2013. However, Thorne noted that the deadline was extended to December 1, 2017, since the project would have experienced several delays.
In 2012, Guyana, under the leadership of former President Donald Ramotar, 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 Minister David Patterson and the contracting company, China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), it was announced that the project would be continued.
Thorne had been optimistic of the project being completed by 2017. At a project update briefing, Thorne noted that of the US$150 million, only US$37.3 million had been expended to date. Of this amount, some US$33 million was spent by CHEC, which included US$1.9 million of local funds put up by the Government of Guyana.
As it relates to the works being done, the Infrastructure Ministry’s project manager told media operatives that while the initial plan was for the northern end of the runway to be extended, because of difficulties with the terrain, a decision was taken to extend the runway from both the northern and southern ends, in order to minimise the cost.
On completion of the expansion project, it is expected to yield two air passenger boarding bridges for passengers’ arrival and departure; a 450-person seating departure area; escalators and elevators, in addition to its extended runway that would cater for larger categories of aircraft. (Jarly Bryan)