Low maintenance, misuse of runway blamed for deterioration

Baramita Airstrip

Following a social media post by a local pilot highlighting the deteriorating condition of the recently-repaired Baramita Airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini), the Public Infrastructure Ministry has conducted an assessment during which several issues were identified.

On Friday, the entity said that a team of officials from the Ministry and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), along with the project’s contractor, on Tuesday last visited the Airstrip to conduct an assessment.
During that visit, a number of issues were identified, including the lack of routine maintenance of the Airstrip and misuse of the runway.
As such, the Ministry noted, “A report outlining the condition of the runway and the way forward was also compiled.”
In the meantime, the Ministry will undertake inspections of all other airstrips where a similar method of sealing was used, to ensure similar issues do not occur. It said it would also review the performance of maintenance contractors to ensure that projects were executed properly.
“If it is discovered that same is unacceptable, immediate action will be taken since the safety of passengers is the top priority,” the Public Infrastructure Ministry posited.
Furthermore, the Ministry said it would take advantage of the opportunity at the upcoming National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference to hold discussions with village leaders on usage and their responsibilities for airstrips in their villages, with the aim of working more closely with the elected councils in the future.
Last Saturday, Captain Learie Barclay took to his Facebook page to express his disgust at the condition of the runway and parking area at the Baramita Airstrip, where rehabilitation works were completed less than six months ago. It was reported that the $70 million contract for the project was awarded to Mohammed Ramzan Ali Khan Construction.
According to Barclay’s social media post, “… It is a deplorable condition due substandard work. The bitumen layer [which he subsequently said was actually stabilising compound sprayed on the surface] is less than a 1/4 inch thick.”
Three days after his Facebook post, Captain Barclay was part of a crew that flew out the high-level team, led by GCAA Director General Egbert Field, to carry out the assessment. He said that Field had emphasised the need for maintenance and the fact that the runway belonged to the community.

Nevertheless, the following day, Barclay again took to his social media account to highlight a similar situation, this time at the Port Kaituma Airstrip.
“What is NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council], who has a maintenance contract for the runway doing?… [I] just went in there for a medevac and was forced to dodge a large number of deep and wide potholes,” he said, while calling on those responsible to do better.
The coalition Government has been placing much emphasis on developing infrastructure in the hinterland regions, including in the aviation sector. In fact, some $250 million was set aside in the 2018 Budget to improve airstrips and aerodromes across the country.