The private sector has played a major role in the development of civil aviation in this country from the very beginning with pioneers like Art Williams. Many brave pilots, also pioneers, have lost their lives flying to and from locations in the interior. More recently, several businessmen had the courage to try to make a go of Guyana Airways as a private enterprise. They failed, partly because of the enormous difficulties that face small airlines everywhere in the world.

A domestic airline industry has indeed been established. As Mr Michael Correia, the chairman of Ogle Airport Inc (OAI), noted in his address at the recent ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone to mark the commencement of the process of constructing Ogle Municipal Airport, Ogle is already the hub of domestic travel and medical emergency air transport out of the interior, processing about 50,000 passengers and millions of pounds of cargo a year with a fleet of 34 aircraft.

Now, five investors, Mr Beni Sankar, Mr Yacoob Alli, Mr Anthony Mekdeci, Mr Jerry Gouveia and Mr Correia have embarked on a major project to develop Ogle airport. On the 5th November, 2001, they signed an agreement with the government and assumed control on the 1st December, 2001 with Mr Mekdeci as airport manager. In August 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in which OAI undertook to develop Ogle in two phases over the next five years. The first phase will deal with all the mandatory safety improvements required and will include a new 2500 foot runway parallel to the existing one, a new terminal facility, development of parking areas, better drainage, improved facilities for customs, immigration, and air traffic control and health and fire services. This is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2004.

The second phase will convert the first phase terminal to domestic operations only, will extend the runway to 4000 feet and will provide for the construction of a modern, international airport terminal on the northern side of the airport. This is hoped to be completed three years after the first phase.

Mr Correia noted in his address that the port-of-entry status will allow for operating hours from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. and will cater for the regional traffic from Boa Vista, Paramaribo, Porto Ordaz, Barbados, and Trinidad. It will allow for larger aircraft and greater competition, and more frequent flights at more convenient times. It will be useful for the new Caricom headquarters being constructed nearby. Residents of Georgetown and the east coast will also benefit.

These investors must be congratulated for undertaking this substantial project which will provide employment and other benefits for the economy, when it has been completed. It is, as Mr Correia noted, a classic example of entrepreneurial risk taking. It is also unusual as the private sector does not normally undertake projects that involve infrastructural work. Mr Correia also mentioned that the project was supported by both the government and the opposition and expressed the hope that there would be many more projects like that.

In these difficult economic times it is good to find businessmen committing themselves like this to large scale long term investment.