THE Iwokrama-Fairview village airstrip in Region Eight is set for significant upgrade, with an eye on Guyana’s hosting of the 28th Inter-Sessional Meeting of Caricom Heads in February next year.Regional leaders are expected to spend time at the biodiversity centre, according to Public infrastructure Minister David Patterson, and Government has sought an additional $110M to undertake works at the airstrip, located within the Indigenous community of Fairview, which itself lies within the boundaries of the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve.

A sum of $241.5M was already green-lighted in this year’s budget for the project. The works, which will see the airstrip being upgraded to Category A 1 status, include extension of the runway to 4200 feet ($83.8M); works to a ring-road at the airstrip ($19.3M), and construction of a fence for security purposes ($6.8M).

Questioned by the Opposition in the National Assembly on the sums being sought for works to the airstrip, Patterson said Iwokrama is a well-studied and documented area, which in the past received funding from the Commonwealth Secretariat, but is now being funded by Government. He said that increased tourism is being considered as a pivotal factor in enhancement works, adding that with tourism comes the need for larger aircraft to operate in the area. He said the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was consulted on the project, and
noted that several other airstrips across the country will be improved. He said the tendering process is ongoing, following which works would be undertaken on the ground.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported in June that Senior Hinterland Engineer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Naeem, has informed that the Iwokrama-Fairview airstrip, which was built in 2007, was at the time covered with vegetation.

Patterson also explained that the scope of works to be carried out on the airstrip would involve massive brush clearing, to facilitate better takeoff and landing of aircraft. A rock-bar would also be removed from the environs of the runway, and the airstrip will have lateritic material for its elevation and polymer stabilized material to improve the strength and durability of the existing lateritic material and reduce air pollution.

There will also be a waiting area for passengers, GINA reported.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, told GINA at the time that the rehabilitated airstrip will be good for tourism.

“Once we have tourists coming into the country, they can now visit Iwokarama, which would be a tourist attraction,” she said.