– PRO reports
THE US$138M Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) modernisation is progressing, according to the airport’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Aneka Edwards.She reported that, as of Monday, approximately 1,500 truckloads of sand have been dumped on the trial section of runway extension, with each truck discharging between 27 and 28 cubic metres.
Edwards said the contractor; China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is continuing the works.
On January 4, 2014, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Robeson Benn, CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ramesh Ghir, other airport officials and CHEC engineers visited the sand pit from which the company gets the backfilling material.
The joint Opposition, last December, opposed a $65.4M allocation for the project included in a Statement of Excess, a financial paper tabled by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh.
But given that the minister acted in accordance with the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, the Opposition’s move was unsuccessful.
The programme had faced similar objection when the 2013 Budget was cut but in mid-September this year, Chairman of the CJIA Board, Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo said the venture is being propelled by a US$20M mobilisation advance made under the 2012 Budget.
Under the project, a new, modern terminal building would be constructed with the runway extended to accommodate larger, wide-body planes.
