Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and visiting British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband yesterday toured the US$65.5 million Terminal 2 project under construction at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.
In a post on his Facebook page, Singh said the terminal is being built by British firm Mowlem International Limited, formerly BHM Construction International, and described it as an example of expanding commercial ties between Guyana and the United Kingdom.
He said the project would support tourism, trade and investment as increased travel for business and leisure creates demand for additional airport capacity.
Miliband was accompanied by the UK’s Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, Amy Barklam; UK Export Finance Chief Executive Officer Tim Reid; and British High Commissioner Joseph Fisher.
Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar and CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir also participated in the visit.
President Irfaan Ali turned the sod for the terminal on August 25, 2025. Singh said the development formed part of the government’s wider aviation plans and its manifesto commitment to construct a new terminal at CJIA.
A release yesterday from the CJIA said the new 180,000-square-foot Terminal 2 represents a major milestone in the transformation and modernisation of Guyana’s principal international gateway.
Designed to accommodate up to 3,200 passengers per hour, the state-of-the-art facility will significantly expand CJIA’s capacity, improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall passenger experience, CJIA said.
Beyond increasing airport capacity, the release said that Terminal 2 will play a critical role in positioning Guyana as a competitive regional aviation hub.
According to Stabroek News’s report on the sod-turning, the development was announced as a 156,000-square-foot arrivals terminal intended to increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve the passenger experience.
The report identified BHM Construction and Manchester Airports Group as collaborators and said construction was expected to begin in 2026 and take 18 months. Planned facilities included business lounges and expanded concessions.
The project has previously attracted questions about disclosure of its procurement arrangements. Stabroek News reported in February that details of the contract amount and the process through which the contractors were selected had not been made public, despite the sod-turning and a $7 billion allocation in the 2025 budget. Singh’s post today put the project’s value at US$65.5 million.
The same February report said the Environmental Protection Agency had determined that an Environmental Impact Assessment was not required because the proposed terminal would not significantly affect the environment. The agency stated that this determination did not itself constitute project approval.
During an earlier project review, Ghir had called for the integration of biometric technology, electronic gates and self-service baggage-drop systems to reduce passenger-processing times. He also said the new terminal and upgrades to the existing facility should support the government’s plans for a green airport.
Ali again highlighted Terminal 2 during the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s conference in Georgetown earlier this month. Kiskadee Watch reported that he placed it alongside proposed airports in Lethem and Berbice, road connections and a deep-water port as elements of a broader transport development programme.
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