Two month old $397 Million airstrip in distress

Less than two months after the Government commissioned a 397 Million dollar hinterland Airstrip in Region 7, the state was forced to instruct the contractor to return and do corrective works by the liability clause in his contract.

The contract to rehabilitate the Paruima Airstrip in Region 7 was awarded to International Import and Supplies, tasked with ensuring a Single Bituminous Surface Treatment finish for the runway.

The works to the airstrip commenced in March of 2023, were completed in April 2024, and began giving problems in June 2024.

A statement from the Ministry of Public Works stated that during a site visit to the location in June of this year, engineers observed several surface defects on the runway.

The visit was prompted after several airline and aircraft operators complained to authorities that the runway was in distress.

The Ministry in it’s statement said the contractor was given instructions to remedy the defects within one week of the site visit and that was done in accordance with the liability clause in the contract.

It was noted that engineers are now testing the structural integrity of the remainder of the runway to ensure that the design and strength as specified in the contract were complied with.

The Ministry said a video circulating with an aircraft landing at the location was before the site visit in June of this year.’

When it come to the competencies of the contractor, the ministry said two other hinterland airstrips were built by them in 2020 and 2021 respectively. No defects have been reported at those airstrip, the ministry noted.