KINGSTON - Due to the high volume of poultry production in the periphery of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC), a public awareness campaign will have to be accelerated so as not to disrupt the economic activity.
This is the view of members of the Bird Strike Committee, including individuals fromthe Guyana Livestock Development Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, Public Works Ministry, Guyana Amazon Tropical Bird Society, Bounty Farm Limited and Ministry of Health, at its meeting held on September 4 at the Public Works Ministry’s Boardroom.
Members agree that there is a dire need to educate farmers on proper practices in poultry production which can reduce the mortality rate. This action can reduce the disposal of carcasses. To this end, efforts are being undertaken to begin the process.
Bird strikes are a concern for the Ministry and CJIAC’s officials.
On April 26, 2011 Caribbean Airlines flight BW 662 was proceeding on a scheduled flight from CJIAC to Piarco International airport in Trinidad when it ingested a bird in its left engine. The incident occurred two minutes after takeoff at an altitude of 3,000 feet. The bird strike disabled the left engine of the aircraft which resulted in an emergency landing back at CJIAC.
TIMEHRI - Squatters, who are in the critical pathway of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) expansion were today, August 28 afforded the opportunity to apply for house lots as Government forges ahead with its relocation plan of the illegal occupants.
At least 25 residents turned out to hear what Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, and other officials had to say. A group of agitated residents protested outside against not being able to join the meeting which was intended for those persons living in the immediate path of the airport expansion.
According to Minister Benn, the most viable options immediately available are either to relocate at Yarrowkabra or at other existing housing schemes. For those who have already applied, Housing officials were on hand to take pertinent information regarding their applications, while new applicants were interviewed.
“We are committed to work out what assistance or help we can do with the relocation. The only things I could say definitively at the moment, and this matter was discussed at the Cabinet, that the area identified is Yarrowkabra…You don’t have to go to Yarrowkabra you can go to other places but the important thing is that we need pave the way to start the construction of the airport. For those who can move now we are prepared to provide the transportation to assist,” Minister Benn stated.
The Minister further noted that if the airport is not expanded and improved to meet the demands of the airlines, the business community and the travelling public then the entire country will suffer economically and more importantly, persons living in the Soesdyke/Timehri area will stand to lose financially.
Prior to the commencement of the meeting persons claiming to be official representatives of the squatters demanded to be part of the audience. In light of this, Minister Benn explained that his ministry, along with key stakeholders, has agreed to relocate the squatters in phases.
“In terms of the immediate construction, you are the Phase 1 persons. Persons who are not immediately affected by the building or the extension of the runway will be looked at in Phase 2, and there is a Phase 3.”
Squatters were warned
Despite the numerous warnings by the Ministry over the years, persons continued to expand their living quarters on the Airport’s land.
In 1990, the Guyana Lands and Survey recorded 16 structures most of which belonged to the Guyana Defence Force. However, in 2002, a Housing Ministry survey recorded a significant upsurge – 216 dwellings were documented. Two other surveys executed in 2008 and 2013 revealed that those number s climbed to 299 and 325 respectively.
And now that the land is required for the airport’s expansion, Minister Benn pointed out; political pundits are using it for their own agenda.
“But I want to say this clear here, this is not just the interest of the Ministry of Public Works, or simply the interest of the Government – it is the public’s interest,” he charged.
Against this backdrop, Minister Benn urged the squatters to work with him to “make this process as seamless as possible.”
There are approximately 49 squatters in the Phase 1 of the Ministry’s relocation plan.
TIMEHRI - Yeolena Callender and Ivelaw McNaughton are the newest batch of Cheddi Jagan International Airport staff to be recognized for their dedication and hard work for the period January to June 2013.
At a simple ceremony held recently, Senior Personnel Clerk, Callender and McNaughton, an Aviation Security Officer, were given tokens and monetary gifts by CJIAC’s management.
Ironically, Callender who is on the organizing committee had no idea that she was chosen for the coveted position. She has been with the Corporation since 2009, while McNaughton began his stint in 2012.
This is the seventh year that employees are honoured for their outstanding contribution to the facility.
TIMEHRI - The owners of businesses that line the access road en route to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation’s departure/drop off area have vowed to work along with management to tackle noise nuisance; garbage pileups and illegal parking.
Administration and Operations Officer, Dwayne Butters and Assistant Supervisor of Aviation Security Terry Thomas engage several owners on ways and means to address the issues last week.
“Help us so that we can help you,” Mr. Butters appealed to owners.
He informed them that vehicles, especially on Friday evenings, are parked haphazardly in the ‘no parking zone’ which creates a “traffic nightmare” for departing passengers.
“What we also found is that each shop would play music and they all want to outplay each other…so you could imagine the noise level,” Mr. Butters told owners.
Furthermore, the Admin and Operations Officer cautioned them to remove any garbage from their respective establishment as often as possible. Failure to comply, he added, could result in hefty penalties imposed. “In addition to that, we want to reduce the dog population in and around the airport.”
To ensure that these issues are adhered to, the CJIAC will implement a system whereby security personnel will patrol the area periodically to maintain order, Mr. Thomas disclosed.
The owners were also given contact numbers for airport personnel to make reports. Currently, 12 businesses are in operation.
TIMEHRI - The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation’s (CJIAC) financial performance for the first half of this year – January to June - has set a solid platform for continued solid and sustainable year.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir, in his half yearly report, announced a nine percent or GYD$44M increase in revenues for the Airport. So far, CJIAC has accumulated GYD$542M compared to GYD$498M in 2012 for the same period.
The climb in income, Ghir stated, is “due to the increase in non aeronautical earnings and stringent debts management strategy adapted by the Corporation.”
Furthermore, of the income collected, $335M was transferred to the Consolidated Fund – that figure represents a 12 percent hike in comparison to 2012 when $300M was transferred.
This performance follows the recording breaking one in 2012 where the Corporation earned a sum of GYD$1.120B.
TIMEHRI - Safety of passengers and speeding were among “a laundry list of issues” candidly discussed during a meeting between the Chief Executive Officer and taxi drivers of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) on August 8.
Held in the Viewing Gallery, over 30 drivers were in attendance.
The meeting came on the heels of a tragic accident that claimed the life of Roopnarine “Blinky” Sooklall on August 5. He was 43.
“We are a service oriented organization. So we also have to focus on safety, our passengers depend on that oath,” Mr. Ghir stated.
He reiterated that taxi drivers are crucial to the daily operation of CJIAC.
In recounting his fond memories of “Blinkey”, the Airport CEO said “his commitment to his job and the service he provided was an invaluable one and he will be surely missed.”
The funeral service for Mr. Sooklall was held on Sunday, August 11.
TIMEHRI – Armed with a wealth of information, Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation employees are now ready to put their communications skills to the test.
For six days, 39 staff participated in a workshop at the airport facility’s Conference Room on how to communicate effectively in the office.
Jean Carol, Training Coordinator of the Public Service Ministry guided the CJIAC staff through the paces of using proper English and how to prepare reports and memos among others.
The workshop was just one of many that CJIA management has organized over the past five years to allow it staff to be constantly trained.
According to Dursatty Doodnauth-Mangru, CJIAC’s Commercial and Administration Manager, the Airport has to maintain its standards and in facilitating such sessions “we are able to uphold our core value which is excellence.”
The workshop was held in two phases. The first batch of participants was trained from July 16 through 18, while the second batch began their sessions on July 29 through July 31.
