THE arrivals lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, is to have a new look by yearend with additional facilities in place when rehabilitation works, due to begin in two weeks, are completed.
The Ministry of Public Works and Communication and KBC General Contractors Incorporated, the firm that won the bid for the project, signed a contract Friday for $231M for works to begin.
The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.
Permanent Secretary of the Public Works Ministry, Mr. Kenneth Jordan, who signed on behalf of the government, said the works include a new roof for the terminal covering an area of 21,772 square feet. It also involves remodelling the arrivals section of 24,088 square feet, and an extension of about 2,522 square feet.
When the project is completed, the lounge will accommodate three duty free shops, a cambio, ATM banking services, a storage and security room, aeronautical information services room and two concession spaces in the greeting area.
This would be in addition to existing services such as Customs and Immigration, a post office and a taxi tourist booth, officials said.
While these works are under way, the airport management would put systems in place to ensure that it performs efficiently as it should.
Corridors for passengers would be established away from the working area so as to reduce any inconvenience, and security at the airport will not be compromised while construction is being done, the officials said.
Mr. Manniram Prashad, Chairman of the airport board, said the works to be done at the arrivals area of the airport fit into a bigger picture of things happening for development in Guyana.
He referred to the municipal airport project at Ogle, the construction of the new CARICOM Secretariat and the Convention Centre nearby and said that in a week's time the building of a 150-room hotel will begin in the same area.
He said the construction of the cricket stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara to host World Cup cricket scheduled for 2007, also fits into the bigger picture.
Prashad said these developments would mean more people visiting Guyana and it was important that the arrivals area of the airport be given a new look to complement all the other efforts to make the country attractive for visitors.