Latest update January 28th, 2026 12:35 AM
$4B budgeted to upgrade hinterland airstrips
(Kaieteur News) – Having spent $2.5 billion to upgrade several hinterland airstrips last year, the government is planning to spend $4 billion more this year on a few similar projects.
Presenting this year’s national budget on Monday, Senior Minister with the responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said the allocation will be used to commence works on airstrips at Mahdia, Linden and Mabaruma and to complete works on those airstrips started last year.
The newly constructed Aishalton Airstrip in Region Nine.
“We will continue to maintain and upgrade our numerous hinterland airstrips as we see the impact of our investments resulting in faster, safer, more frequent, reliable and cheaper service to hinterland communities. In 2025, $2.5 billion was expended to complete works on Aishalton, Kaieteur, Karisparu, Kwakwani and Paramakatoi airstrips and advance works on Ekereku Bottom, Jawalla, Kaikan and Mattew’s Ridge airstrips,” he said on Monday.
Kaieteur News had reported that the Ministry of Public Works had undertaken works on hinterland airstrips at Aishalton Village, Region Nine for $920 million, and at Paramakatoi in Region Eight for $799 million which were commissioned by President Irfaan Ali earlier this month. Recently, works on the Karasabai Airstrip commenced which is valued at $993 million.
Additionally, the minister said that in collaboration with the private sector, they will embark on the construction of two new municipal airports, one at Rose Hall/Canje and the other at Lethem.
“These will improve connectivity within Guyana and with neigbouring countries, and will provide regional and domestic carriers alternative landing destinations within Guyana. In the case of the Rose Hall/Canje airport, this will constitute critical connectivity to facilitate ease of access given the broader vision for industrial and economic development in Region 6, once the second gas pipeline is landed there. In the case of the Lethem airport, this will facilitate the emergence of Region 9 as a major hub for trade, tourism, and connectivity between northern Brazil and the Caribbean,” he explained.
This publication understands that in the aviation sector, the Government will facilitate the establishment of an aviation school to equip Guyanese and persons from the Caribbean with the full range of aviation skills including certified training of pilots, engineers, inspectors, air traffic control officers and other aviation related expertise.
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