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Chi Chi West residents patch potholes on airstrip to aid safe landing of planes
(Kaieteur News) – Residents of the remote interior community of Chi Chi West, Region Seven were forced to patch holes manually on their local airstrip on Wednesday to ensure safe aircraft landings, despite the government awarding a multi-million-dollar upgrade contract for the facility.
Villagers patching holes on the airstrip
The emergency maintenance was conducted entirely by unpaid local volunteers. Candida Joseph, the Toshao of Chinoweing, confirmed the community’s direct intervention when contacted by this newspaper. “Yes, we went yesterday to patch up the holes,” Toshao Joseph stated. When asked whether the villagers receive any form of stipend, financial support, or maintenance allowance from the State to upkeep the critical transportation link, the Toshao responded firmly “No.”
The reliance on voluntary community labour has raised questions regarding a major infrastructure contract intended for the facility. Reports indicate that a contract totaling $118 million was previously awarded to K.P. Thomas and Sons Contracting Incorporated specifically for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Chi Chi West Airstrip back in 2018.
The patched airstrip
Hinterland airstrips serve as vital lifelines for deep-interior regions, providing the only viable access for medical evacuations, emergency supplies, and daily cargo. The deteriorating state of the runway, coupled with the lack of active machinery or contractor presence, forced residents to take matters into their own hands to prevent the airfield from being deemed unsafe for flights.
Efforts made by this newspaper to contact key regulatory and governmental heads regarding the situation proved futile yesterday. Minister of Aviation, Deodat Indar, could not be reached for comment on whether the Ministry intends to step in. Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Fields, was also unavailable to provide clarity on the safety status of the runway or prospective rehabilitation timelines.
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