Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn says the designs for the Lethem airport are being reviewed by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as the facility is expected to be a boon to the rapidly developing area.
In his address at the Aviation Symposium held on Tuesday, Benn noted that Region Nine is one of the most rapidly developing areas in Guyana with the building of the Takutu Bridge, the emerging agriculture sector and the enhancement of the tourism sector. Constructing an airport there is expected to augment this development, he said, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release.
He also lauded the achievements of the Ogle International Airport and the dramatic transformation it has made over the past two years. The facility was on Tuesday commissioned as a regional airport. One billion dollars has been spent to upgrade the air navigation tower and, Benn said, government plans to continue to develop the industry. He observed that a recent meeting between GCAA officials and President Donald Ramotar focused on establishing a main office building and an aircraft museum.
Director General of GCAA, Zulfikar Mohamed said steps have been taken to enhance safety at the international and domestic airports. He said that the system at the GCAA is structured to meet international needs and the work produced has to be standardised.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also praised the success of the local aviation industry and in particular, the development of the Ogle International Airport. He said that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri will soon become an international hub which will encourage persons to travel here, even as a stopover point.
This year, Guyana celebrates 100 years in the aviation industry since March 24, 1913, when a pioneer aviator, George Schmidt landed his aircraft in Georgetown.
