– says developing Lethem aerodrome being mulled
When one considers Guyana’s growth trajectory, the importance of doing further upgrades to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) becomes increasingly obvious. This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, who also said that the model for a second terminal building for CJIA must be considered.
The President made these comments during the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana’s (THAG), President’s Award Dinner and Auction on Saturday evening. He also revealed that further development of the Lethem aerodrome is being considered.
“We’re looking at how we can develop a model to transform Lethem into a major airport. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, has already outgrown its capacity. If you come there at midnight, you would see we do not have the space to process passengers.”
“And with all the growth rate that is thrown to us from international agencies, it is clear we have to start thinking aggressively about terminal two. This is the recommendation of all the global players.”
The President pointed out that the new terminal at the Bangalore Airport in India has been designed in such a way as to simulate the experience of walking through a rainforest. According to him, aligning the country’s infrastructure with the promotion of tourism is possible.
“What model that should take and how it should represent is what we have to think about, from a tourism perspective. For me, I would not just like to see an airport. Look at the countries that people admire and look at what they admire. Singapore. Did you see their airport? Dubai. Did you see their airport? Bangalore, did you see their new terminal?”
“That is the first thing that comes to mind out of the psyche of the people. So, whatever we do must match what we want to achieve from the tourism perspective. Imagine if you came to a new terminal that feels like a Botanical Garden when you walk through it. Or feels like a rainforest when you walk through it,” President Ali said.
As the airport is the first thing visitors to a country see upon landing, President Ali noted that an airport must tell the story of a country. He noted the importance of Guyana developing its infrastructure to meet its development aspirations and as he said during his address to attendees at the dinner, time is not on Guyana’s side.
“The airport tells the story of the country. When you pass through an airport, you must be passing through what the country is, the story of the country. So, we have to start thinking. And you know, the narrowness of thinking cannot derail the vision.”
“It’s easy for persons to be critical out there. Why do you want to build this fancy (project), why do you want to do this? Because we are creating the environment for a sector that must be competitive in 2030 and beyond. And to do this, you must build the infrastructure,” the President further said.
CJIA has previously gone through extensive upgrades, although it got off to a rocky start under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government. The CJIA Modernisation Project was supposed to have been completed in 2018, but delays bogged down the project.
To make matters worse, the former Administration had settled for a downsized design while paying more than the allocated US$150 million. The CJIA, in its downgraded design expansion, had four fewer air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures than the initial eight. There was also a 450-seat departure area, escalators, and elevators, in addition to an incomplete extended runway.
After assuming office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had inspected the works that were ongoing by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) at CJIA, which showed a deviation from the terms agreed upon in the initial fixed-price US$138 million contract.
In light of this, the Public Works Ministry entered into a new agreement with the company for the further expansion of the CJIA as well as the completion of existing works. The agreement was pegged at US$9 million and it stated that China Harbour would solely bear the costs for the new works to be executed. Those works have since been completed and two additional airbridges were installed last year.
