The ancient county of Berbice is now more accessible thanks to the introduction of a regular air service with the city.
Trans Guyana Airlines yesterday launched what will initially be a bi-weekly service between the Ogle municipal airport and the Rose Hall, Canje airfield in Berbice.
The introductory fare of $4,500 one way and $8,000 return will last until December 15. Businessmen, officials from the sugar company and residents wanting quicker trips to either destination could enjoy the convenience of a scheduled regular service to satisfy their needs.
Welcome addition: Trans Guyana Airways, Director of Operations, Roy Jainandan (left), in the company of GUYSUCO's Production Manager, Peter Briggs (right), businessman, Beni Sankar (second from right), and pilot, Robert Fernandes (second from left), on the 2,000-ft Rose Hall, Canje runway shortly after arrival in the ancient county. (Oscar P. Clarke photo)
The approximately 30-minute trip by aircraft takes the commuter over the vast coastal plain of the country divided up by several waterways including the Berbice River ending in the heart of the East Berbice sugar growing belt.
The Rose Hall, Canje, airstrip recently relaid with a concrete surface is 2,000 ft long and can take the weight of the nine-seater Islander craft being operated by Trans Guyana. Rose Hall was chosen because it was closer to the town centre and involved a shorter flying time, thus less cost to passengers
Briefing reporters after the inaugural flight, Trans Guyana's Director of Operations Captain, Roy Jainandan, who was at the controls for the initial flight, stated that the service was eagerly anticipated by persons in the Berbice area who wanted a quick and convenient travel route.
The service, according to Captain Jainandan, the first scheduled air service link between Demerara and Berbice, was the latest in a series already existing between the city and all other regions in the country. The flight departs Ogle at 6:45 am every Tuesday and Thursday and arrives back in the city at 8:00 am. It will allow those wanting to make use of the service the convenience of enjoying a full day at either destination. In the afternoon, the flight leaves Ogle at 3:45 pm to arrive at Rose Hall at 4:15 pm and returns at 4:45 pm.
Persons wanting to utilise the service can do so by contracting the airlines agent, Parasram Travel service, which has offices at Skeldon, Rose Hall and New Amsterdam in the Berbice area and the usual agents in the city.
Measures to assure the safety of passengers have been implemented with the company's pilots detailed to carry hand held scanners, which would be used to screen passengers at the Berbice location. However, according to Jainandan, these measures would be better instituted with the collaboration of state security forces.
There was noticeably tighter security at the Ogle Aerodrome following the recent hijacking of one of the company's flights from Lethem. The measures according to Jainandan, are aimed at ensuring that customers enjoy a measure of comfort and security while travelling with the carrier. (Oscar P. Clarke)