Upgrades at Camp Jaguar airstrip will enhance support for Indigenous communities – President Ali – Guyana Chronicle

PLANS to upgrade the airstrip at Camp Jaguar in the New River Triangle will enhance support for Indigenous communities, President, Dr Irfaan Ali has said.

His comments came in response to media reports that Suriname’s Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin had summoned Guyana’s Ambassador, Virjanand Depoo, expressing concerns about the plans and citing the Dutch nation’s claims to the New River Triangle though international maps recognise that area as Guyana’s territory.

Offering comments to reporters on the sidelines of an event on Sunday, President Ali stated that it currently takes about two weeks to get supplies into that area from New Amsterdam, the capital town in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne).

“Right now, the infrastructure to service them — to have food, and humanitarian aid go in there — is posing a tremendous challenge for the people living there.”

He added: “We always look at ensuring the infrastructure can support our humanitarian effort and the community life there.”

Ambassador Depoo according to media reports was called in for a meeting on Friday with the Suriname government following President Ali’s announcement of plans for the airstrip and a school in the area.

President Ali, however noted that he has engaged Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhie and informed him that it isn’t a military move.

He however stressed that the government is focused on enhancing humanitarian support.

Last week, as he commissioned the new Brigadier Gary Beaton Aerodrome at Eteringbang, President Ali said there would be upgrades of the Camp Jaguar airstrip and several others.

“Those two airstrips, Camp Jaguar and Orinduik, immediately will be added, and work must commence before the end of the year,” President Ali stated. “The materials must be procured and work must commence on these airstrips before the end of the year,” he said.