The Ministry of Public Works was able to carry out major rehabilitative work on four airstrips in 2014, despite the fact the Combined Opposition cut the ministry’s budgetary allocation. These airstrips are in Region One; at Matthews Ridge ($74 M) and Port Kaituma ($50 M), and in Region Seven, at Kamarang ($35 M) and Imbaimadai ($26 M). Resident contractors, who were paid on a quarterly basis, did all routine maintenance works. According to information from the ministry, the Aerodrome Division was successful in achieving most of its objectives for 2014, with regard to routine and corrective maintenance at hinterland airstrips for the year. Further the ministry noted that there were no adverse reports from aircraft operators, nor members of the various communities, in relation to works carried out on these airstrips. Site visits by the aerodrome inspection team were done to ensure that all works were carried out, in keeping with the required standards of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority. Meanwhile in going forward, normal routine and corrective maintenance to all 46 government aerodromes, in Regions One to Ten, and any other related works, which may be required will continue. With an estimated budget of $205 M, in 2015, capital works will be undertaken for the rehabilitation of four airstrips in Regions Seven, Eight and Nine. These will include the airstrips at Eteringbang, Mahdia, Annai, and Kurupung. In April of 2014, when Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh presented the National Budget, the Combined Opposition voted against funding for the rehabilitation of several hinterland airstrips. This saw Amerindians, from some remote locations, staging protests, declaring that their developments were being stymied and it was a move to cut them off from the coastland. However, in keeping with the constitution, some of the money was restored, and this was used for the hinterland airstrips, and other developmental projects. Many remote communities in the hinterland depend heavily on domestic flights to shuttle food and other critical supplies to their communities, most of which are also hubs for gold operations.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:27:51 +0000
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