– Pres Ali urges Private Sector investments
Transportation and connectivity to Karasabai have been enhanced with the commissioning of a new $1.053 billion concrete airstrip, as one local airline operator is already exploring scheduled weekly flights to the Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) village.
“We are already discussing with JAGS to work out a weekly flight to Karasabai because your chairwoman [of Region Nine, Vania Albert] has already raised it with us that we need a scheduled weekly flight to Karasabai now,” President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed on Saturday.
He made this announcement while delivering the feature address at the commissioning of the new 3000-foot, two-taxiway concrete airstrip at Karasabai Village.
This new airstrip can accommodate multiple flight take-offs and has a parking capacity for three caravans. It is also outfitted with navigational lights to facilitate night-time usage.
The construction of the airstrip was completed in 70 days by approximately 60 residents, both male and female, from the village, with oversight by the Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Public Works, which worked to transform the community’s earthen track into eight inches of thick, rigid, paved concrete, spanning a length of 3000 ft by 50 ft, with a strength of 5000 SPI to handle heavy-duty use.
Apart from the $1.053 billion cost for the airstrip, an additional $85 million was injected into a terminal building that was gifted to the village by the Guyanese company International Import and Supplies, which provided the ready-mix concrete for the airstrip. This terminal facility contains a departure/arrival lounge and police and immigration stations, as well as a VIP lounge and other basic amenities.
Private sector investments
According to President Ali, these massive investments into the new airstrip will catapult commercial development in the community – something he says the private sector will have to step up and capitalise on. We also have to invest and get the private sector to invest in the infrastructure that would allow us to optimise the value of this airstrip,” the Guyanese leader noted.
In fact, he mentioned that with a 20-tonne refrigerator that can blast-freeze meat expected to be installed in the coming months at Lethem, farmers will be able to expand their production for markets in Georgetown.
Already, at least one private sector individual is prepared to work with one Region Nine village to branch out into large-scale agricultural production. “We will start that discussion with you today so that your small farmers can partner with large-scale investment and make agriculture a major, major economic opportunity… We will be working with you to expand coffee production and to expand food production so we can optimise the value creation that we can have out of this airstrip,” the President stated on Saturday.
He further reminded us that just 70 days ago, access to and from Karasabai was hindered by weather conditions, especially heavy rains, which were often detrimental during medical emergencies.
“During the rainy season, if you have to do a medical evacuation, you have three hours to drive to Lethem and then get the plane. And if by the time the three hours are up, you land in Lethem at night, you have to wait until the next morning… Today, day or night, a medevac can land here and take you to Lethem, where we have major facilities or anywhere else in Guyana,” he posited.
In fact, the head of state added that soon, the community will see drones being used to deliver emergency medical supplies from Lethem to the upgraded clinic facility at Karasabai. “That is where we’re taking the country… These are the extraordinary stories about today.”
Tourism opportunities
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill noted that with the new airstrip and terminal building, there are other commercial opportunities that can be tapped into to generate revenue for Karasabai and surrounding villages.
“You now have a terminal building that could accommodate about 60 persons, which means you have planes coming in; they could sit down, and planes going out could wait… You know this village could actually commercialise what is happening here. Tourists could come here now for one-day trips, and I hope the airline operators that are here are thinking about that.”
“You could fly them in, partner with the village to cook the lunch, pay a fee for using the lounge and all the facilities, carry them around the village on the ATVs, and then fly them out in the afternoon. Or they could decide to build all the eco-lodges like the President has been talking about so that they can even sleep overnight,” Edghill stated.
According to the Public Works Minister, this is just the beginning of the waves of development that will hit Region Nine, which is poised for a modern international airport at Lethem and a series of transformative road networks, including the Linden to Lethem project as well as a new road to Region Eight (Potaro–Siparuni).
This new Karasabai airstrip is the third such facility that the Government has built in the last few months to enhance travel to and from hinterland communities across the country. In January, a $920 million concrete airstrip at Aishalton, also in Region Nine, and the $800 million Paramakatoi Airstrip in Region Eight were commissioned.
Developing 35 airstrips
According to Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, the new Karasabai airstrip, which has a lifespan of 30 years, along with these two other airstrips, is part of a massive plan to expand the local aviation sector across the country.
This will see 35 new airstrips built across the country, including several in Region Nine, several in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and at least one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
“The tender is already out. We have about 35 airstrips… We are implementing a model where we have the bidders finance the construction of the airstrips… It will cost over $33 billion to build these,” Minister Indar noted.
But even with the vast opportunities yet to come, the chairwoman of Region Nine said the newly commissioned airstrip is already benefiting the 1200 residents of Karasabai, 60 of whom earned livelihoods through employment during the construction phase. Albert added that similar benefits are seen in other sectors throughout the region.
“Today’s commissioning [of the Karasabai airstrip] is another clear example that development is reaching the hinterland and improving the lives of our people. We look forward to continuing progress and partnerships as we work together to build stronger communities and a stronger Region Nine,” the regional chair stated.
