Dear Editor,
Thank you for sending us a copy of the letter published in the Stabroek News of December 18, 2007, from an anonymous writer asking the question “When will Ogle become a regional airport”.
Ogle Airport Inc. under its Lease Agreement for the Management, Operation and Development of Ogle Aerodrome, completed the first phase of the aerodrome’s development into a Regional Municipal Airport in March 2007.
The first phase involved the construction of a new Class 1A runway of 800 metres to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) specifications ap-proved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and construction of a terminal building appropriate for passenger handling, Customs and Immigration and security services and associated taxiways, aprons, ramps and fencing.
The first phase was financed entirely by the investors of OAI.
A second phase of development into an international port of entry as a Regional Municipal Airport with a 1199 metre runway has been made possible with the assistance of 1.5 million Euros grant as part of a wider Caribbean Integrated Support Project (CISP) of the European Development Fund. This phase will provide a runway and enhanced Terminal Building capable of receiving Dash 8 Series 300 Turbo Prop aircraft of the type operated by Caribbean Airlines and LIAT and other similar airlines flying out of Venezuela and Suriname.
Ogle Airport Inc. was advised of the approval of this Grant on December 11, 2006, by the Secretariat of the Caribbean Forum. (Cariforum)
The Government of Guyana, by copy of a letter of March 8, 2007, from the Minister of Finance to the Minister of Transport & Hydraulics, notified OAI that government would launch the tenders for a works contract for the further expansion of the runway and a supply contract for further runway equipment by the end of March 2007.
The EU Delegation to Guyana gave approval to proceed with the launch of the tender on May 28, 2007.
The overall responsibility of the programme lies with the Regional Authorising Officer (RAO) who is the Secretary General of Cari-forum.
The National Authorising Officer (NAO) of Guyana for the implementation of the development grant is the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Public Works & Communication is the designated supervisor of the project.
OAI is ready to supervise the execution of the contracts on behalf of the government as soon as the Ministry of Finance launches the tenders on behalf of Cariforum.
It is estimated that the Second Phase of Develop-ment would be completed within 18 months of the launching of the contract tenders.
Yours sincerely
Kit Nascimento
PR Consultant for Ogle
Airport Inc
