By Nicole Telford- The resuscitation of Linden airstrip is paramount on the agenda for the Region #10 community of Linden. During an interview with Village Voice News, Regional Chairman Deron Adams stated that the airstrip, along with several other initiatives, will be among the projects the region plans to request in the 2025 budget proposal to the government.
Adams said while the President dreams of roads to be built and promises contract signings “we in Linden hope for the 2025 budget to include the resuscitation of the Linden airstrip and attendant facilities to facilitate easy movement of patients being air dashed to the city in cases of emergency and Region #10 citizens having a faster way in and out of the region to access services.”
Adams explained that when the Linden-Soesdyke road construction work begins and the traffic slows and at times grinds to a halt, we can still have patients air dash to Georgetown and goods and other services provided or accessible in a timely manner.
President Irfaan Ali had announced a US$161Million dollars contract to upgrade the Linden- Soesdyke highway during his address at the opening ceremony of the International Building Exposition 2024.
Ali was at the time speaking of the road link between Guyana and Brazil that his government envisions.” ‘We had a dream of driving on the beautiful highway from Timehri all the way to Brazil, no longer a dream. We will soon go to sign a contract for the new Linden to Soesdyke Highway,” said President Ali.
The Regional Chairman however noted that with the oil resources Guyana now possess it is necessary for the President and his government to have more tangible dreams, he opined “dreams of having an airport in Linden that can encourage trade, expand the tourism sector by creating a new route which would increase revenue for the aircraft operators and create jobs for citizens.”
Chairman Adams said the Linden airport elevation is 180 feet above sea level. The runway is asphalt surfaced, measuring 5,000 in length and 98 feet wide and it’s more than 1000 feet longer than Ogle airstrip. He adds that the geography of Linden is positioned as the gateway to the interior, the Berbice river and riverain communities, these attributes should be factored into the President and his cabinet dreams of a more developed Region #10.
