$1.8B in Air and water transport recorded for 2019
—sea and river defence infrastructure saw additional $1.8B spending to execute emergency works
DPI, Guyana, Monday, July 6, 2020
At the end of 2019, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure invested $1.8Billion to enhance air and water support in the country. This is according to the recently released Ministry of Finance’s End of Year report.
In the aviation sector, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s (CJIA) expansion project saw approximately a 90 percent completion of works. This included the construction and extension of the North-East and South-West runways.
Passengers at the immigration booth
MV Sabanto on the Essequibo River.
Passengers at the baggage carousel
CJIA further saw the completion of its apron and taxiway, a new terminal building and rehabilitation of the existing building. The airport’s diesel generator room and fire pump station were also completed.
Over in Region 9, there was also a study to upgrade the Lethem aerodrome, a project that is poised to revolutionise air transport in Guyana once finalised.
Continuing with the transformation of air travel works on the establishment of an Aviation Master Plan progressed into 2019.
Concerning river transport, rehabilitation of the MV Kanawan and the MV Sabanto ferries were done in 2019. Stellings at Bartica, Leguan and Parika saw continued rehabilitation and construction.
For Parika, a section of the stelling is already complete while the study for its modernisation is underway.
Further maintenance and construction, this time for sea and river defences were executed to at a cost of $5.7Billion – a $1.8Billion increase due to emergency works done at the Mahaicony foreshore.
The End of Year report stated the construction and rehabilitation of river defence structures were completed in Crane/Mary, Windsor Forest, Waller’s Delight, Grove/Look-Out, East Bank Essequibo; Crabwood Creek and Bush Lot/Maida on the Corentyne; Vryheid’s Lust; Canje River; and, Orealla Village.
Further, stakeholder engagements on the Environmental Impact and Social Assessment and the design phases for the Georgetown waterfront enhancement project are ongoing.