The newly upgraded $220 million Anna Regina/Mainstay Airstrip was commissioned on Friday to improve connectivity, strengthen tourism, expand agricultural opportunities, and drive economic growth across Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
The project was undertaken by several contractors, including Builders Hardware General Supplies and Construction, ICAN Engineering and Construction, and forms part of a strategic component of Guyana’s expanding aviation sector.
At the commissioning ceremony on Friday, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who delivered the feature address, said the commissioning of the airstrip represents far more than the opening of a new aviation facility.
“This ceremony goes beyond this airstrip. It extends further than the length and width of the runway. Building an airstrip is about connection, inclusion, and One Guyana in action,” the President declared.
He explained that infrastructure remains central to the Government’s vision of ensuring that no community is left behind, noting that roads, bridges, ports, broadband connectivity, and airstrips all play vital roles in creating equal opportunities and narrowing economic disparities.
“In a country like Guyana, airstrips are not luxuries; they are lifelines. They reduce travel time, improve access to healthcare, education, business, and emergency services, while unlocking opportunities for investment and development.”
However, the Head of State spoke of the unprecedented level of investment made in Region Two over the past five years, stating that it exceeds the combined investments made throughout the region’s previous history.
These investments, he noted, have transformed communities through improved education, healthcare, agriculture, and public infrastructure.
Reflecting on his visits to communities across the Pomeroon earlier in the day, President Ali spoke of what he described as an “extraordinary story of human transformation.”
He noted that communities that once struggled to access basic services are now producing trained teachers, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs, while young people aspire to pursue university degrees and professional careers.
President Ali emphasised that improved infrastructure, including upgraded airstrips, now allows faster emergency medical evacuations and disaster responses, potentially saving lives.
However, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar recalled visiting the community in 2025 when residents raised concerns about deteriorating roads, bridges, and the condition of the airstrip. He said the commissioning demonstrates that the Government listens to communities and acts on their concerns.
According to Indar, the administration continues to prioritise community-driven development, ensuring that requests made by residents are assessed and translated into tangible projects.
In addition, Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka Village Marsha Williams expressed gratitude to the government for investing in infrastructure that will directly benefit residents.
She said the upgraded airstrip will strengthen tourism by making the community more accessible to visitors seeking its renowned Blackwater Lake, beaches, nature trails, cabins, and cultural attractions.
Additionally, Williams noted that improved transportation will support farmers by creating greater opportunities for trade, investment, and the movement of agricultural produce while generating employment for local businesses, accommodation providers, craft producers, and entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Mandalall Ramraj, described the project as another example of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that development reaches every community.
He highlighted billions of dollars invested across Region Two in agriculture, drainage and irrigation, healthcare, education, and public services, saying residents are already experiencing the benefits through increased agricultural production, improved hospitals, upgraded schools, and expanded government services.
The Anna Regina/Mainstay Airstrip forms part of the Government’s wider national infrastructure program aimed at improving transportation, strengthening regional connectivity, and creating new economic opportunities throughout Guyana.
The massive investment is expected to enhance tourism, support agriculture, improve emergency response capabilities, and contribute to the long-term development of Mainstay, Region Two, and surrounding communities.
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