Guyana Moves to Establish First Direct Agricultural Airlift from Interior to CARICOM
Guyana is preparing to begin flying fresh produce directly from its hinterland communities to CARICOM markets within the next 12 months, a move President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali says will anchor a new “connectivity economy” linking rural producers to regional consumers.
The announcement was made on Sunday during the sod-turning ceremony for the new Bartica Aerodrome Terminal, where the President emphasized that the initiative is far more than a transport upgrade. It represents a structural shift in how Guyana integrates its remote agricultural regions with the wider Caribbean economy.
According to President Ali, connectivity is the foundation of modern development. “Before economies can expand, before opportunities can spread, and before regions can flourish together, they must first be linked physically, digitally, and economically,” he stated. “Connectivity is the backbone of economic development because it links people, goods, services, and ideas.”
Under this new initiative, farmers in Region Seven and surrounding hinterland areas will gain direct access to regional markets, something previously constrained by long distances, multiple transfers, and limited cold-chain options. The government is now working with air operators, regulatory bodies, and logistics planners to design a system capable of moving perishable produce efficiently from interior airstrips to Caribbean destinations.
Officials say the flights will reduce spoilage, cut transport time drastically, and help hinterland farmers command better prices by selling fresh produce into markets that demand faster delivery cycles. For CARICOM countries, the plan offers a reliable new source of high-quality agricultural goods, deepening regional food security cooperation.
The President underscored that the project aligns with Guyana’s broader development agenda: connecting isolated communities, enabling rural entrepreneurship, and strengthening the country’s role as a regional food supplier. With the Bartica Aerodrome Terminal now underway, government engineers and aviation partners are shifting their focus to designing the logistics network that will support the new export route.
Once executed on schedule, Guyana could be dispatching its first direct produce flights to CARICOM within a year, marking a significant milestone in transforming the hinterland into a competitive regional supplier and advancing the Administration’s ambitions for a fully interlinked Caribbean economy.
