Rehabilitation work at the Lethem aerodrome is expected to commence in the next two weeks as a contract was recently awarded for the project.
In July, bids were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board for the rehabilitation of the aerodrome with four companies bidding for the project. It was revealed on Thursday by Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, that a contract to the tune of $137 million was awarded to H. Nauth & Sons.
The minister, at the commissioning of a newly constructed taxiway at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, told reporters that previously, concerns were raised about the state of the Lethem airstrip and those at other interior locations. He said that the administration is ensuring that those airstrips are in a good state.
He disclosed that they are currently looking at the paving of the 6,000 feet long Lethem airstrip, which will be done in sections, and the work will start within the next two weeks. Sharma explained that initially, as per the contract, 4,000 feet of the airstrip will be paved. “And, of course, the 6,000 feet, we’re progressively moving towards paving the entire 6,000 feet and we will be doing it in phases,” he said.
“The intention of the government is to make the Lethem aerodrome an international airport,” Sharma said, even as he added that the works will be done in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
According to the minister, an upgraded Lethem aerodrome will attract regional traffic from Northern Brazil and some Caribbean islands. He said that tourists would no longer have to go to the Ogle Airport and then to Lethem as they would be able to travel directly to Lethem and make their way to various interior locations.
Sharma indicated that that plan will ease air traffic at the Ogle airport and further open it up to international traffic and the oil and gas sector. “While this (Ogle airport) will focus on international traffic and also the oil and gas sector…we can take off the burden. So we’re looking at an international airport which will serve regional purposes and a roadway linking Brazil to Guyana,” he said.
The minister told Stabroek News that the ministry is currently looking at the further development of the Linden to Lethem corridor.
