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$993M Karasabai airstrip to significantly boost tourism, agriculture in South Pakaraimas villages – Toshao
(Kaieteur News) – The upgrade of the Karasabai airstrip, Region Nine will significantly boost tourism and agriculture opportunities for communities in the South Pakaraimas, Toshao David Albert has said.
The Ministry of Public Works is spending a whopping $993 million to upgrade the airstrip which will have a length of 3000ft by 50ft, with a strength of 5000 SPI and would be eight inches thick rigid paved concrete.
The works will be executed through the Ministry’s Special Projects Unit (SPU), with a community participation model of 50 persons. International Import and Supplies will be supplying the concrete for the project.
Toshao Albert said the soon to be upgraded runway would not just benefit Karasabai but the seven neighbouring villages.
Toshao of Karasabai Village, David Albert
“Some of the benefits that it will bring to us the residents is that years ago it used to be scheduled flights here and hopefully this would be reinstated back to our community. Also, it will benefit if you have to do a medevac to Georgetown which is health wise, and also residents can now book a flight from here to Georgetown,” he stated.
The Toshao said too that, “We would also be having frequent visitors because our village is already into tourism and we are trying to get more clients to come to Karasabai which is also known as the home of the Sun Parakeets.”
Toshao Albert disclosed that currently Karasabai boasts bird watching, ant-eater spotting, and river tours for tourists. Efforts are being made to include horseback riding, and mountain hiking to improve the tourism experience at the location.
The tourism products are being aggressively marketed on the village’s social media pages with the aim of attracting more local and international tourists.
“Up to last week, we had eight visitors from the United States of America, they came and spend like three days in our village,” he stated.
In terms of agriculture, he explained that Karasabai is known for its cashew nuts which are harvested on a seasonal basis.
The airstrip in Karasabai Village which the government is spending $993 million to upgrade.
He said that the farmers from his village would plant cassava and then they get the by-products like farine, cassava bread and cassareep. They have recently started a lemon farm and presently they are going to plant back a village farm which would include red peas, sweet cassava, plantain and some cash crop produce.
Toshao Albert said while villagers want to market their produce around the region, the upgraded airstrip would allow them “to export to the regional level and if possible, the national level.”
Further, he said that efforts are being made to export beef, mutton and pork.
“Yes, it is a good investment because not just to Karasabai but to the entire sub-district. It is a long-term investment and we really welcome that. There are also other communities nearby also going into tourism like Tiger Pond, Rukumoto and Tipuru. These villages have wonderful tourism sites but it’s just that it needs to be explored. They have huge potential in terms of tourism, so this airstrip would not bring tourism benefit to Karasabai but to neighbouring communities that borders our village,” the Toshao informed.
Kaieteur News understands that while the airstrip is under construction, the closest airstrip residents would access is the Lethem airstrip, which is approximately two hours away via bus.
It was reported that to ensure accessibility at all times in the event of an emergency, the Public Works Ministry said road works were to begin from January 15, to ensure the road to Lethem is at a satisfactory level.
The Public Works Ministry had detailed that the airstrip will also be outfitted with 50 navigational lights to accommodate night operations if necessary. The rehabilitated airstrip will also be painted in accordance with international standards and outfitted with a parking space to accommodate five aircraft.
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