“CJIA expansion at third-fix stage”- Minister Patterson

January 29, 2018

DPI, GUYANA, Saturday, January 27, 2018

The US$150M Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project is on the verge of being completed. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said the mammoth project is at the “third fix stage” which entails the final aspects of the venture being completed.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson briefing President, David Granger, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and other Cabinet members and representatives from China Harbour Engineering Company during a tour of CJIA.

The Minister made the announcement today, during a site visit. He was accompanied by President, David Granger, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson and other Cabinet members.

Minister Patterson explained that the first-fix stage comprises all the work needed to take a building from the foundation stage, to plastering of internal walls. This also includes constructing walls, floors and ceilings. The second-fix stage comprises electrical fixtures such as the installation of wires, cables and conduits.

“The third-fix is stage is where we’re at now and we’re now going into the finishing touches of the project. We do not want that at the end and when we’re about to open somebody says we should have a mirror or picture or poles there that is lack of planning. So, we want to set everything in order before completion,” Minister Patterson outlined.

While responding to questions, the Public Infrastructure Minister highlighted that the security fence will be constructed in a manner that will not entail a relocation of nearby vendors but prevents their direct access to the airport. He said, “the idea is to have concessionaire areas here to rent at a suitable time.”

In brief remarks, President David Granger described the project as functional and central to Guyana’s future development. “Now that we are embarking on a major new petroleum industry people will want to come in greater numbers and it is very important that they should be able to come into Guyana at a modern airport. It must show the character of the country, and also promise to move people not only from the Caribbean to Guyana but to the rest of South of America,” the Head-of-State said.

Some of the completed works.

In November 2011, the previous administration and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) inked a US$138M design and construction contract for the CJIA expansion project. The outstanding US$12M was provided by the government to facilitate works that will complement the modernisation.

The Project’s Manager, Carmichael Thorne during his presentation stated that the project is geared at addressing four critical areas – insufficient public parking, overcrowding within the terminal, conflicts of parking aircraft while at the same time permitting larger aircraft on the international apron and a safety area in the event of an aircraft overshooting the runway.

According to Thorne, the scope of the project will see an area for additional parking, rehabilitation of the entire existing terminal for departures only, boarding corridors connecting the two terminals that will allow for passengers to board and disembark. He added that the project will also see passenger buses to convey passengers to the aircraft.

To date, the North Eastern runway pavement is complete and the contractor is already mobilised commence with the application of markings. Work on the South West runway is about 65 percent complete and will run until the end of the project, Thorne explained.

Both the apron and taxiway are significantly advanced and are slated to be completed in March, “this is the area that will house large size aircraft,” the Project Engineer said. The new arrival terminal is 75 percent complete while rehabilitation of the existing terminal is behind due to challenges of executing the works while the building is in use. According to Thorne, the relocation process has been completed which leaves the reconnection of utilities.

The process of preserving the existing murals at CJIA has already begun. Thorne explained, “Our general proposal is that one of the pieces that will go into the new arrival building is a piece that depicts all the historical sites in Guyana, a piece on the Kaieteur falls will be at the arrival building, so when visitors arrive that would be the first thing they see.”