BUDGET 2022: Hinterland airstrips set for upgrades at $600M; CJIA gets $927M

With work still ongoing to upgrade the country’s main port, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the government has allocated large sums to upgrades other airstrips across the country in budget 2022.

To this end, some $600 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation and maintenance of hinterland airstrips at Eteringbang, Karisparu, Paruima and Ekereku Bottom.

The interventions to be undertaken on the airstrips earmarked for this year are intended to make them compliant with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s minimum engineering standards, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh explained as he made the announcement.

“Given the emphasis on hinterland development and the domestic tourism product, it is important that we upgrade and enhance the services provided by our hinterland airstrips and aerodromes,” Dr. Singh said.

Presenting the budget to the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Finance Minister explained that this will also improve the safety for travellers, aircraft and personnel using the airstrips.

This subsector has been allocated $2 billion including $927 million for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Dr. Singh said the government’s emphasis on modernising the CJIA to fully comply with air transport standards required for a world class international port of entry, is being further realised through the construction and rehabilitation of additional facilities.

These include the rehabilitation of the international apron and the construction of a taxiway; construction of an administrative building with conferencing facilities; offices for the airlines and other supporting agencies; a duty-free bond; and the construction of a new office complex to accommodate CJIA’s staffers.