FROM Facebook to Twitter and several other mainstream social networking hubs, hundreds of Guyanese abroad have been expressing excitement and satisfaction at the recent official opening of the Ogle International Airport’s new runway (Phase 2) by President Donald Ramotar last week. Only several weeks ago, the diaspora had urged government, via several social networking forums, to ensure that there are contingency measures in place to deal with international air travel, once planned expansion work would have commenced at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, at Timehri.
However, government had embraced the Ogle expansion project long before a decision was made to seek out funding to bring the main airport at Timehri up to the same standards as are enjoyed in other Caribbean countries.
At the Ogle opening ceremony, President Donald Ramotar had indicated that the improved runway was part of a progressive plan to develop Ogle International into a municipal aerodrome and port of departure and arrival for both intra-regional and domestic flights.
The expansion project, which was financed by the European Commission to the tune of 158M euros, includes the 100-foot widening, and extension of the runway to 4,200 feet from its original 2,200 feet.