Well, I was employed as an Air Traffic Controller in the Civil Aviation Department from 1966 to 1970 and there were no major additions as stated above. In fact, a brand new airport terminal was constructed in 1968 by the American company, BB McCormick & Sons Inc.
This company also constructed the Soesdyke-Linden highway, built a new taxiway parallel to the main runway and resurfaced the main runway. On an interesting note, during the resurfacing process, the main runway was reduced in width from 250ft (US military specifications) to 150ft (International Civil Aviation specifications). Guyana as an independent nation had joined the United Nations and thus became a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The country therefore had to be in compliance with ICAO’s standards and recommended practices. It is still required to do so at this time. An ICAO expert from Sweden, Mr Torsten Andersen held the position of Technical Officer in the Civil Aviation Department in 1969, to oversee all the technical changes which included the re-organization of the Air Traffic Services and adjusting the boundaries of Guyana’s airspace, so that Guyana Air Traffic Control had jurisdiction over all air traffic flying over Guyana. Prior to that time, Suriname ATC had jurisdiction over Guyana’s airspace above 20,000 ft. That airspace was nominated as the Zandery UIR (Upper Information Region) I rest my case.
Yours faithfully,
Lloyd H Marshall
