THE Caribbean regional carrier Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) made its first official landing at Ogle International Airport (OIA), East Coast Demerara, yesterday.

The fully-booked flight received a watery welcome from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) as the plane taxied on the tarmac to allow passengers to deplane. The aircraft landed months after the airline had made a test flight when the OIA was officially commissioned to accommodate regional flights.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle minutes after arrival, several passengers described their experience as spectacular, and said it represents time and money being saved.
 On yesterday’s inaugural flight were many who came to Guyana for the first time, who said that while they did not land at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, deplaning at the OIA was smooth and welcome.

Some came to be a part of a Seventh-Day Adventist Church conference, and others were from the British Virgin Islands (BVI), St. Kitts and Nevis, and from other countries within the Caribbean.

Was easier
One Guyanese woman said she has not been back here in three years, but arriving at Ogle was acceptable, since it was easier for her to make her way home on the East Coast Demerara. She has come for a vacation.

A male passenger declared the Ogle destination signifies that Guyana is indeed making progress. He commended the Airport Administration while urging the continuing trend towards international flights from there.
 Those who arrived yesterday were greeted by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn; Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Mr. Zulfikar Mohamed; GCAA Safety Director, Ms. Paula Mc Adam; and OIA Head of Security, Harold Hopkinson.

Customs Officers assisted the arrivals in getting through the process of being cleared within half an hour, the media was informed.

The same aircraft departed Guyana a full flight at about 15.30 hrs.       

Meanwhile, during a press briefing, Minister Benn said he was pleased with the development, and praised the management of the OIA for its efforts.
He explained that the accomplishment has been in the making for some time now, and seeing it come to fruition is something in which the Government of Guyana takes pride, and all Guyanese should also be proud.

Benn said the idea was the brainchild of the Government and the Private Sector, with funding from the European Union (EU).

Much appreciated
He added that the realisation is commendable, and the meaningful role played by the EU in the public/private partnership must be much appreciated.

This is a transformative project which was, and continues to be, of much interest to the CARICOM Secretariat, given its close proximity to the airport, in the facilitation of business meetings which are held ever so often, Benn said.

He said the Government of Guyana is very well aware of the two significant events which will be coming to the South American Region next year, namely the Olympics and the World Cup football in neighbouring Brazil, as one of the biggest issues faced in this part of the world is regional flights.

The commissioning of regional flights at Ogle will ease this burden and act as a means of providing direct and fast travel to countries within the region and a bit further afield, Benn posited.