It is really for me a great pleasure that I stand here this afternoon at Ogle International Airport. Those last three words have resonated with me for a long time and finally being able to say them is almost like music to my ears.

The circle is almost complete from my vision expressed in 2003 which included the Secretariat Headquarters, a Conference Centre, the University of Guyana and the International Airport. The two other elements will surely not be too long in coming – a five star hotel and a shopping centre.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I do remember being approached in December 2003 to assist in securing financial resources for the development of Ogle Airport. At that time, a variety of arguments were advanced as to why the required support should be given. These arguments included that a developed Ogle Airport would:

1. Improve intra-CARICOM air travel and transportation between Ogle Airport and Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. These points will serve as transit points for flights to and from other CARICOM Member States and beyond.

2. Facilitate air travel and transportation between CARICOM Member States and the countries of Latin America, particularly Brazil, Venezuela and French Guiana through use of Ogle Airport as a transit point.

3. Promote and facilitate Caribbean multi-destination tourism by twinning the traditional tourism products of some CARICOM Member States with the enormous eco-tourism potential of Guyana.  I visited the interior of Guyana and vowed that I must go back at the earliest opportunity.

4. Facilitate CARICOM governance by making air travel from other CARICOM Member States to Guyana easier through direct flights to Ogle. This would promote increased use of Guyana as a venue for regional meetings and result in savings to the Community.

Important as all those benefits are, there is also the question of this facility’s contribution to the achievement of the important goal of the Caribbean Community as provided for in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for the provision of adequate, safe and internationally competitive transport services for the development and consolidation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Further, this Airport by its location in relation to the capital city, Georgetown, will contribute to the essential feature of a Community, that is, the co-mingling of peoples. That is what our Community is about – the co-mingling of its peoples - and certainly this development will greatly enhance the achievement of that objective.

To reach this stage where we are this afternoon, appreciation must be expressed to the European Union and the Government of South Korea, (I can’t forget the fire unit) both of whom lent crucial assistance in furthering this Project. I must also thank the other Member States of CARIFORUM for their understanding and support which allowed the funding amounting finally to 1.8 million euros to be approved for the Project.

However no praise can be too high for the President and Government of Guyana and the private sector organisation Ogle Airport Incorporated. This partnership in providing this airport development has been a clear indication of what the public and private sectors can achieve when they act in concert.

Having already pointed out the benefits of this infrastructure project to the country and the Region, I sincerely hope that, in the not too distant future, we will have established an Infrastructure Fund for CARIFORUM which can assist the Region in addressing its physical infrastructure requirements particularly those related to the critical area of transportation. Plans are in train for an intra regional ferry for the Southern Caribbean and we hope that the EU will be no less generous.

I wish to express my satisfaction that the physical works have actually commenced and that development of the Ogle Airport is achieved without delay. Its designation as an international port in Guyana is another step in the development process.

I am pleased that the Secretariat, and myself, as Secretary-General of CARICOM and CARIFORUM, ably assisted by Mr. Percival Marie, have been able to play a role in the Ogle Airport development process. Guyana is our home and is an important part of the regional integration process.

I thank you

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org