…says President Ramotar as he commissions new Ogle Airport runway
PHASE two of the Ogle International Airport was commissioned yesterday, with President Donald Ramotar expressing optimism that the upgraded facility will further boost the country’s tourism sector, as well as promote the country’s already buzzing hinterland economies.
Phase two includes the extension of the runway by 2,200 feet, now making it 4,200 feet, and 100 feet wide. The project was financed by the European Commission to the tune of 158M euros.
President Ramotar pointed out that the improved runway is part of a progressive plan to development the Ogle International Airport to a municipality aerodrome and port of departure and arrival for flights to regional and neighbouring countries.
He expressed the view that all should get on board as it relates to development of the country, and this will see the country reaping benefits in the long terms. He cautioned that those who do not take advantage of this opportunity can more than likely end up in the dustbin of Guyana’s history. The President made these remarks as he referred to the recent cuts in the National Budget by the parliamentary Opposition, that affect several critical developmental programmes.
The President told those gathered that the expansion and upgrading of the Ogle International Airport is in no way intended to replace the country’s existing airport, the Cheddie Jagan International Airport, or to give it competition.
President Ramotar explained that with the growth of the tourism sector, Guyana, like the rest of the world, has a mandate to put systems to accommodate more travellers and aircraft.
He said the decision to expand the Ogle Airport was a cautious one that involved the private sector. He commended the sector for its administration of the facility, and expressed the view that it represented a model that should be adopted in other sectors.
The Guyanese leader made it clear that the government has no intentions of taking over the operations of the facility, but has a mandate to ensure that investments there promote competition that will see the users of the services being the ultimate beneficiaries. Meanwhile, head of the European Union Delegation here, Ambassador Robert Kopecky, said that the idea of the facility upgrade is to support regional integration and communication. The ambassador added that he is quite pleased with the level of development and involvement of the private sector that saw several additional works being done at the airport.
He said that actions, such as the ones the private sector took at the airport, encouraged the European Union to invest even further, with the expectation that the private sector will continue to inject in the projects.
Ambassador Kopecky said that his agency was extremely satisfied with the work of the contractor, BK International, which was able to honour contractual agreements, despite adverse weather conditions, and still being able to deliver a top quality product.
The ambassador pointed out that the new facility will be safer with the installation of the Omni directional range and distance measuring equipment, which is a precondition for some airlines to operate from Ogle.