CJIA expansion project continuing apace - Benn

CJIA expansion project continuing apace – Benn

Mar 21, 2014 News

…squatters to be relocated in phases

By Latoya Giles
On Monday, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, will present the National Estimates for several major government projects, but financing will hinge on whether the Joint Opposition votes affirmatively for the monies to be allocated to them. One such project is the US$150M Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, which had its budgetary allocation slashed last year.

Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, told Kaieteur News yesterday that “it’s anybody guess which kind of cover we would have when the budgetary allocation for that comes up.”
He explained that for the airport project and other major infrastructure projects they would anticipate that they (opposition) are looking at issues that are overarching national issues which would see through the term of any government or any party in power.
Benn said that the airport project, which government is pushing for, is looking well beyond the next 20 to 50 years.
“If the money is cut, we believe that what is in the country’s intrinsic and overarching national interest…. they would have to follow those dictates,” Benn said.
With regards to the still-to-be-removed “squatters” Benn insisted that they will be relocated. He said that there were several meetings, one such being held yesterday, to discuss this issue.
According to Benn, Government will be undertaking the relocation in three phases.
The Minister had earlier stated that the expansion project was still progressing on schedule, despite the fact that the opposition had not approved expenditure allocated last year in the Budget, and that funds were still provided from the national coffers.
Benn had maintained that what was done was lawful, and directed attention to the recent ruling by Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang. He said that the project started with the US$20.7M that had been advanced to the Chinese contractor in 2012 after which the 2013 monies were paid over.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Balraj Balram, during a recent media briefing had reminded media operatives that the Minister of Finance had prepared a Statement of Excesses in which he detailed to the House that the $1.6B (US$8.3M) had been spent on the airport project. Prior to the recent ruling by Chief Justice (Ag) Chang, the Opposition had voted down this provision when it came up for consideration on December 12, 2013.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of CJIA, Ramesh Dookhoo, had said last year, that growth in the air transport sector will complement other sectors such as mining and energy, thus the need for the project.
He had said that the project will create new employment opportunities and provide training and development, and capacity building for existing and new employees. Other possible benefits, he said, would include increases in the quality of goods and services available to consumers, and local and regional linkages for the import and export of commodities.
Direct benefits include improvements in facilitation, efficiency in processing time for passenger travel, implementing improved safety and security systems, and the overall enhancement of operations at CJIA.
An expanded airport operation will also attract other key businesses such as ground handling services, cargo handlers, and security service providers, catering service, approved café, restaurants, and franchises and so on… these will all create jobs,” Dookhoo said.