The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had approved the construction of a helipad at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara but is yet to process another application to develop part of the foreshore there as part of the project.
This is according to the agency’s head Dr Vincent Adams, who said that the developer, Orinduik Development, has to fulfill several requirements before the second application is approved.
Last week, Stabroek News reported that the EPA had not granted approval for the heliport’s construction but yesterday Adams clarified that permission was given for the helipad to be constructed but the second application, which deals with reclaiming part of the shorefront, is still being processed.
The construction of the heliport has raised some questions about how approval for its construction was given and about aviation safety as well as regulatory and sea defence concerns. It is believed that the heliport is intended to be a base for the helicopters servicing the oil and gas industry.
“We are aware that there is a construction there. We have seen it and we are significantly concerned about it, notwithstanding that it appears to be done in secret,” spokesperson for Trans Guyana Airways and Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) Kit Nascimento had told this newspaper last week. He had said that the companies will register their concerns about air safety with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) since it seems that its air traffic path coordinates will be interlinked with OAI’s, given the location of the facility. However, Adams explained yesterday that in September of 2017, the GCAA had granted a no-objection for the construction of the facility and had specifically stated that while it is within the OAI traffic zone, it is “clear of departure and arrival paths for traffic landing and taking off at the Ogle airport.”
“So even though it is in the zone of that airport, it is clear of landing and taking off traffic,” he emphasised. Adams further explained that in December of that same year, the Sea Defence Board had also given its no-objection to the heliport’s construction.
The EPA head pointed out that before the agency granted the permission, it would have looked at those no-objections by the two authorities since the EPA is not an authority on flight paths. Director of the GCAA, Retired Colonel Egbert Field ,had told this newspaper that the construction aspect had been approved by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) and no-objections were given by the Ministry of the Presidency and his agency but that after completion, it still has to meet rigorous standards testing.
He had said that anyone wanting to build an airstrip or heliport has to apply to the MPI for approval. The MPI will then submit the application to other specified agencies asking for them to provide feedback with either their objections or no-objections.
“First thing is the GCAA don’t give construction (permission), we would do a no-objection after an analysis,” he had said.
“If an individual wants to construct one, they will apply to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. It would have to be supported by the GCAA, Ministry of the Presidency, the EPA and I think a few others. They would then get a no-objection. So it is the Ministry of Public Infrastructure that gives permit, not us. When it is constructed, the company or agency will inform MPI’s airstrip division, which has its own inspections team, and they will inform the GCAA to have a look at the airport, in order to certify,” he added.
Stabroek News was unable to get a comment from MPI yesterday.
Reclamation
Meantime, as it relates to the second phase of the project, Adams explained that the company has submitted an application to reclaim part of the shorefront to build a wharf, similar to a deep water port, extending 200 metres out. He said this aspect might affect the mangroves at the location and it was decided that the application would be split, giving permission for the heliport construction, but further investigation will be done for the reclamation aspect.
As the EPA considers the second application, Adams said that they would have to look at the environmental implications and, therefore, the company will have to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment. He disclosed that several meetings were held with company officials last month and they are to provide a “whole bunch of other information in order for us to process the application.”
Additional information includes proof of land ownership, and no-objections from the Sea Defence Board, the Maritime Administration Depart-ment and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute. “We are not even processing that application right now until they submit those information,” Adams said.
Information reaching Stabroek News last week indicated that Orinduik Development is owned by, among others, two former Guyana Defence Force officers. Online information about the company shows that its Managing Director is Brian Backer, while the late former Chairman of the GCAA, Hugh Denbow, was the Board Director of Policies and Regulations. Denbow was murdered earlier this year.
In June of this year, Orinduik Development established an aviation polytechnic, which it said would cater for the emerging oil and gas sector here.
