AIR travel to Guyana is expected to climb this year as the authorities anticipate an increase in passengers and cargo to these shores for this country’s 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee celebrations.This is according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who told the members of the new board of directors of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) that the event may be their very first challenge. Minister Patterson was speaking to the new board members at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure boardroom at Wight’s Lane in Kingston .Junior Minister, Annette Ferguson was also on hand as the board members received their instruments of appointment.
Minister Patterson while urging the board members to be creative in their mandate noted that in 2015 there was a 6% growth in passengers and cargo at the CJIA. He said that this year, the figures are expected to increase, adding that there are some 119 days remaining to Independence Day. Being an international port-of-entry, passengers should feel welcome after touching down at Timehri, Minister Patterson said.
In addition, he said that by the end of 2017 the airport runway expansion may be completed and he noted that this project presents an opportunity for the new board to increase the number of carriers operating at the CJIA.
“The airport sector is a competitive environment and you are in a position to make a contribution “, he said.
As regards the expansion of the air travel markets, Minister Patterson noted that travel south of Guyana is also another avenue which can be explored. He said that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) conducted a study on travel connectivity within South America and in its draft stage; the report indicated that Guyana is the only nation with lowest connectivity to the continental neighbours.
“That is an active market in which we can look at”, he added.
The new CJIA board is chaired by attorney, Stephen Fraser and other members are Gerhard Ramsaroop, Nadia Jaikarran, Stuart Hughes, Gillian Pollard, Sherwood Clarke , CJIA CEO , Ramesh Ghir and Permanent Secretary within the ministry , Balraj Balram who serves as an ex-officio member. The Parliamentary Opposition has not responded to the ministry’s request of having a member on the board.
from outside the Caribbean.