Should one not be amused at a particular scenario, components of which

are of an unintelligible type, with no discernible sense of rationality?
Surely, yes, especially if it is a  repeated occurrence that does not form a pattern of good reason. But since the issue is of grave national importance, which represents national development, then one will have to temper such attempted amusement with serious introspection, so as not to risk reducing matters of critical, national  importance to simplicity.
This newspaper, of course, has editorialised repeatedly on issues relating to the 2013 national budget as well as the Opposition-led ‘cuts’ to budgetary allocations in some sectors and areas.
Chronicle is now forced to add another episode of this defined madness of a collection of seemingly  power-struck and power-crazed collection of Opposition Members of Parliament – the chopping of funding for airport expansion, and other transport projects such as  hinterland roads, airstrips, civil aviation, and the Ogle Airport expansion. One is bound to question the mental balance of these so-called People’s Representatives! How have they arrived at such a decision that clearly obstructs a very important sector of the state’s transformative process?
There is no country that  can aspire to the process of modernisation as Guyana is, without a viable, sustained transportation system that offers vital interconnectivity, whether domestically or the  more  important link, internationally.
A basic survey of the areas targeted will outline what existed by the end of the former PNC regime, in 1992.
Guyanese surely recall the state of the nation’s transport system prior to 1992 – woeful and primitive- where such infrastructure did exist. For example, Timehri resembled  a  drab, unfriendly and uninspiring departure and arrival  entity, with an arrival hall that could not even  accommodate lengthy queues.
Ogle, with the potential to become the country’s second international airport, was primarily an airfield that mainly  facilitated domestic flights to and from the interior. It resembled an outpost, then. Twenty years later, this former aerodrome is now a full-fledged airport, with an expanded runway, that now accommodates flights from Suriname, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Thanks to government’s financial  intervention, working in collaboration with the private sector and players in the aviation sector. It is interesting  to note, that a final payment of US$26.3M  is a casualty of the Opposition scissors.
In the past, hinterland roads were non-existent. In fact, journeying   through many of  these areas were impassable, especially during the rainy season. It was challenging, as well as a nightmare for residents essaying travel through Guyana’s vast interior. It was also a contributory factor in Amerindian children’s frequent absence from school, and even dropouts. All that has changed with the Hinterland Roads programme that is facilitating  faster and unencumbered  travel, while connecting  once distant communities.
It is even of greater necessity, that airstrips throughout  hinterland communities be upgraded, since air travel remains the quickest  form of transport communication between the coastal areas and the vast hinterland geographic space.
The national airport, and Ogle, were victims of  government short-sighted economic development plans. For example, they never planned the development of the country’s tourism potential, much less envisioning this nation expanding its trade and foreign investment prospects.  It is precisely the PPP/C development blueprint for a modern Guyana that has made all things new in these vital areas, that  underlines  Guyana as a  nation on the rise.
That Timehri has been  transformed  since 1993, is beyond all question; but, its constant upgrade has been at a cost of billions, and has added greatly to the nation’s  growing  positive  international image. With Guyana’s gradual socio-economic transformation attracting investors, conferences, and  visitors, government recognises the  importance of an airport that can  offer 21st century services, hence the US$138M expansion project for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Any reasonable parliamentary Opposition, conscious as to the  development needs of its country, would not have committed such an act of economic recklessness, as cutting budgetary allocations for its nation’s transport programme. In committing this, another of its list of  inexplicable budgetary  acts, it is endangering the nation’s social lifeline.