Dear Editor,
I want to strongly commend the recent initiative taken by the Guyana Government to rehabilitate a number of airstrips in the hinterland regions of Guyana. While I certainly believe that the positive impact on Guyana’s infrastructure is commendable, it is even more imperative to point out that rehabilitation of these airstrips has a direct impact on Guyanese people, business and national development.
Travel by air in the hinterland is necessary. The travel time on roads and rivers is often prohibitive, river travel can be dangerous at certain times of the year, and weather and terrain can make it impossible to reach certain locations by land or river at certain times. Reliable airstrips are not a luxury in Guyana, but a critical means of transportation for many.
Repairing and maintaining hinterland airstrips provides multiple benefits. First and foremost, having airstrips that are in good condition is a boon for safety. A safe, predictable and well-maintained runway helps minimise the risk of accidents during landing and takeoff, which are the most critical parts of any flight. Measures such as flattening the terrain, improving drainage, removing obstacles, strengthening runway edges and generally improving minimum standards help pilots have better control over their planes during critical flight operations, and lead to less wear and tear on aircraft overall. Safer airstrips also allow for better planning of trips, since flights are less likely to be cancelled as a result of substandard runway conditions.
Rehabilitated airstrips can also help reduce the cost of air travel. Poorly-maintained airstrips mean higher costs for operators and airlines, as well as higher risks. Everything from increased aircraft maintenance to potential loss of business caused by reputation-damaging cancellations or flight delays can raise the cost of operations, which then must be passed on to passengers. Better infrastructure should lower these costs in the long term and can make routes more viable for air operators, enabling lower fares. While airfare is also a function of several other variables, improvements to airstrips may be a critical first step to making air travel more affordable for students, workers, families visiting loved ones and patients seeking medical care.
The interior airstrip upgrades can also lead to more frequent visits. Improved infrastructure means that it is easier for teachers, healthcare professionals, technicians and government employees to travel to and from hinterland communities on a regular basis. Service delivery and accountability can be significantly strengthened as a result. In addition, family members who live on the coast will find it easier to visit relatives in the interior when travel is safer and more reliable. An increase in traffic between Guyana’s regions ensures that interior communities are better connected to the rest of the country and helps to ensure that they are not left behind in Guyana’s development.
Economic activity can also be a beneficiary of this type of infrastructure. Access by air is a boon for local small businesses, the tourist industry and for transporting goods that need to move quickly, such as fresh food or time-sensitive supplies. Tourism in the interior, in particular, is reliant on the comfort and confidence of visitors, and those start with safe and well-run entry points. Better airstrips open up possibilities for local employment and business opportunities while also allowing visitors to access the hinterland’s cultural and natural riches.
National resilience is also boosted through the rehabilitation of airstrips in the hinterland. In the case of an emergency—medical evacuation, disaster response, or transportation of urgently needed goods and services, airstrips provide a vital line of response. Repair and maintenance of these airstrips make the country more able to respond quickly and effectively to save lives and livelihoods.
For these reasons, the rehabilitation of hinterland airstrips is a very welcome initiative. It will increase safety, reduce costs, improve access, and enable economic activity. I encourage the Guyana Government to continue with this work, maintain the airstrips on a consistent basis and work with local communities to protect and preserve them, so that these benefits can be enjoyed by future generations.