Dear Editor,
I wish to extend full support to the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG) in their request for budgetary allocations to improve hinterland airstrips, and encourage both the opposition and the government to listen to the proposals of this organization. This is because the AOAG, as the main provider of air transport services to the hinterland region, has a fairly strong assessment of the locations which it serves. It can easily determine with a fair degree of accuracy, population size as well as demand for air transport services for these locations.
Additionally, with some aircraft operators being involved in the tourism sector, it is very easy for these persons to conduct site analyses with supporting feasibility studies to determine the potential for all locations which have airstrips to be developed as profitable tourist sites. The development of tourist sites in the hinterland, which is known to have a strong pull effect for foreign tourists (who are a great source of foreign currency), and investors in touch with the tourism industry, could serve to spur economic development in these locations, with the potential to transform into them independent economic zones.
As independent economic zones, these locations will have immediate development benefits to the people indigenous to the areas, providing jobs, which ultimately transform into the demand for improved living conditions, inclusive of schools for resident children, and hospital facilities, which will also be geared to serve visiting tourists.
Yours faithfully,
Craig Sylvester
