US150 million and counting…What our new airport should look like when completed

Nov 21, 2018 News 0

In a few weeks’ time, a multimillion-dollar project for the modernization of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, is scheduled to be handed over to the people of Guyana.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

A contract that was signed in November 2011 and should have taken two and a half years to be completed is inexplicably running into its seventh year.
According to the contract signed between the Ministry of Public Works and Communications and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), on November 10, 2011, a brand new terminal building was to have been built, with the old one to be removed at the cost of the government.
Instead, a smaller building for Arrivals has been built, and the current terminal structure has been gutted, and is being renovated, all for the same US$150M.
It would be a far cry from an ambitious, glass-covered building that CHEC committed to build.
The project would have solved the space constraints and opened new concessions and a longer runway for bigger planes.
It was envisaged also that eight passenger bridges to protect travellers from the elements would have been installed, along with 20 check-in counters and the 20 relevant weighing scales.
The new facilities would have included two sets of hold baggage inspections, including X-ray baggage scanning machine and the relevant baggage conveyors, which should be arranged near the abovementioned check-in counters.
Two sets of escalators, and two accessible elevators were also to be installed.
The building of a new airport, when conceptualized, would not have catered for the massive oil find that Guyana is now embracing.

Former President Donald Ramotar turning the sod for the airport expansion.

The renovated old terminal building at the Departure Section.

Already, American Airlines has started coming and there is more interest.

Government has not yet agreed to meet with reporters of Kaieteur News for a tour, and for questions to be fielded about a smaller airport terminal and what impact the modifications would have had on the US$150M price tag – one of the biggest projects to date in Guyana.
The Coalition Government, on entering office in May 2015, had halted the project that was heralded by the previous administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic as a game changer. This was despite questions about CHEC and its questionable track record.
After months, CHEC was allowed to continue with the project. It was never disclosed by the Coalition Government what were the changes.