The expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is progressing in spite of the combined Parliamentary Opposition cutting of the $5.3B from the National 2013 budget for the project.
This is according to Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, who said that that the contractor, China Harbor Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) is currently on the ground, working on the expansion of the runway.
He said equipment for the project has already arrived while more is on its way. Benn explained that this was made possible using the US $20.7M that was previously handed over to CHEC for the project.
The Minister said Government remains steadfast in its hopes of making the CJIA an international category one facility, which will boost air travel and make Guyana a hub for Region and Latin America and building a facility that will serve the country effectively for the next 20-30 years.
Under the project, a new, modern terminal building would be constructed with the runway extended to accommodate larger, wide-body planes.
Government signed a design and build contract to the tune of US$138M with the Chinese contractor.
The project is being partially funded by a US$130M loan from China with the rest coming from the public treasury.
In terms of the relocation plan, Benn said his Ministry is working in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and Human Services & Social Security to have residents’ relocated in a timely manner despite the negative response by some residents. [Kurt Campbell]
