(April 19, 2018) The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will commence the process of refunds for tickets issued by Dynamic International Airways from Wednesday May 2, 2018. Refunds will be issued Mondays to Thursdays from 09:00hrs to 15:00hrs and Fridays from 09:00hrs to 14:00hrs at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Accounts Department, Fort Street, Kingston.
Passengers are required to appear with:
In cases where an individual is appearing on another’s behalf, the following are required in addition to the abovementioned documents:
Furthermore, to allow for smooth processing, passengers have been organised by dates, with a maximum of 80 persons being accommodated each day. Passengers who do not appear on their identified dates will be allowed to appear during the fall-back period, May 14, 2018 to May 25, 2018.
Electronic copies of the list are also available on the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Facebook page as well as Roraima Airways’ website (www.roraimaairways.com) and Facebook page. Passengers may also check with their travel agencies to confirm their appearance on the list.
Passengers are urged to contact the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on 225-4023 or 227-5344 for more information.
Kingston, Georgetown - Residents of Kwakwani are now benefiting from improved electricity supply thanks to the commissioning of two new engines by the Kwakwani Utilities Inc. (KUI)
A simple ceremony commissioning the two new 260 kilowatts engines was held at the Power Station. The new sets more than meet the demands of the community.
This is according to KUI’s General Manager, Mr. Fitzhubert McPherson, who said that the new sets will allow for much improvement within Kwakwani. McPherson has been General Manager since January 2017.
“When I took over, there were a lot of complaints and people were dissatisfied with the power they were having cause it was on and off…and the thing is, you weren’t notified about the power outage. With that, I sat with the technical guy and I said we have to get this thing right and we started doing checks and tests,” he said.
He foresees the new sets allowing residents to enjoy 24 hours of electricity, a marked difference from the irregular access they previously faced. The old engine, he added, was in dire need of overhauling.
“We had two CAT sets before; one engine was costing us a lot of money due to a leak it had that was throwing away most of the oil,” McPherson explained. He further said that the decision to purchase the new engines was taken following a July 2017 study by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Meanwhile, McPherson emphasised that KUI is serious about ensuring the longevity of the new sets and, as a result, staff members have already been exposed to training in the use of the new engines.
“We had a transition to get people knowledgeable of the new sets because we don’t want any mishaps. The representatives from Doosan [the engines reseller] are here doing on the job training, getting the guys them sensitised on how to put the engines on and off. There’s a special way to do it and deviating from that would cause a lot of problems,” McPherson explained. He hopes to have at least two members of staff exposed to more training.
Furthermore, McPherson anticipates a massive expansion project to get underway thanks to the new engines.
“With these new sets, we’ll do a lot of expansion; cause a lot of people are without power and a lot of businesses are without power so with these two new sets there will be a lot of improvement within the community,” he said.
While KUI currently serves approximately 1,200 metre households, this number is expected to grow as the company turns its sights to lighting other areas such as West Bank Kwakwani, Jonestown, New Scheme, and Staff Hill.
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure was well represented as Guyana celebrated its 48th Republic Anniversary on February 23, 2018.
The Ministry participated in this year’s costume and float parade as a medium sized band. As a result, 100 staff members from a number of agencies, including the Guyana Energy Agency, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Transport and Harbours Department, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, and the Maritime Administration Department, became revellers as Guyana celebrated another republic anniversary.The Ministry’s Mash Band, launched on February 19, represented the Ministry’s cooperation, celebration, development, and expansion of Guyana’s emerging green economy.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson, and Minister within the Ministry, Hon. Annette Ferguson lauded the costumes and opined that the costumes will be one that will set the Ministry apart from its competitors. They also thanked all participating persons for their dedication to the Ministry.
Further marvelling at the costumes’ designs, Minister Ferguson commended the designer, Mr. Nelsion Nurse, for developing a concept that was vibrant and one which met the Ministry’s vision. She also thanked the Ministry’s Mashramani Planning Committee and the participating agencies for stepping up to the plate and ensuring the Ministry’s involvement in the annual event.
KINGSTON - Located 19 miles outside Bartica is a spot known as Allsopp’s Point. To frequent travellers, the point is easily distinguishable. But to the casual traveller the location is just like any other: a dirt road surrounded by trees, perhaps memorable by its two-pronged fork in the roadway.
However, as of today (October 20, 2017), the identification of the spot is unmistakeable following the re-erection of a large road sign by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to mark Allsopp’s Point. While the location itself is unremarkable, the life and contributions of the man behind the name, Mr. Phillip Allsopp, is anything but. At the age of 91, Mr. Allsopp was able to see the new sign when he was taken into the location with a team from the Ministry. According to Mr. Allsopp, the visit was one that was long overdue - his last visit to Bartica had been several years ago. On the drive into the town of Bartica, Mr. Allsopp quietly looks out at the landscape; it is much different than the one he remembers. Ever so often he would offer a comment: a quip on the state of the roadway, a compliment on a particularly pretty home, or wonderment at the view of the Essequibo River from Mongrippa Hill. He explained that Bartica had been an instrumental part of his career, since the beginning of his time at the then Ministry of Public Works. “My first assignment with the Ministry of Public Works was to work on surveying the Bartica-Potaro Road,” Mr. Allsopp said. From there, he made other significant contributions to the region, including the construction of the airstrip and the routing of the road which would eventually lead up and beyond the point now famously named after him. He recalls receiving the instruction from then President L.F.S. Burnham to have the roadway constructed. He shared that while the US Army had suggested another location, this proposed location was not satisfactory to President Burnham who later asked Allsopp to bring his expertise to the table.
The rest is now history. Outside of his contributions to Region 7, Mr. Allsopp has done laudable work throughout Guyana. The former Chief Works Officer at the Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Allsopp was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, played a critical role in the realisation of the Takutu Bridge, and oversaw works undertaken on roadways in Essequibo. He also played an important role in negotiating funding for the Demerara Harbour Bridge during his time as the Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Economic Development. The new Allsopp’s Point sign clearly indicates the route to several key locations, including Bartica, Sherima Crossing, and Mahdia.
Besides the presence of Mr. Allsopp, today’s simple ceremony saw the attendance of Region 7 Chairman, Mr. Gordon Bradford; former President of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), Mr. Joel Trotman; Mr. Edward Gonsalvez, former Chief Works Officer at the Ministry of Public Works; Mr. Bernard Matthews, former Government Surveyor; and Mr. Allsopp’s daughter, Susan Allsopp.
The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) is currently providing technical support to the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) Energy Project which seeks to implement pilot/demonstration sustainable energy initiatives in three rural communities in Guyana.
Funded by the Canadian Government, the project, titled ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Renewable Energy Project’, seeks to enhance and accelerate productivity in the rural communities of Shulinab (Region 9), Powaikoru (Region 1) and Moraikobai (Region 5), through the use of renewable energy technology.
The pilot projects were defined based on the communities’ requirements (Demand-driven) with focus on generating new income as a condition for sustainability. This was facilitated by a team of Engineers from GEA along with an OLADE consultant who visited each of the communities to assess what possible projects exist within each village that were sustainable in nature and would further be enhanced through the use of renewable technology. The information gathered from the assessment, which included discussions with the Toshaos and representatives from different village groups, was used to tailor the projects to the needs of each community.
To this end, Shulinab (also known as ‘Macushi Village’), an Amerindian community in South Central Rupununi, Region 9, located on the main South Savannah road about 35 miles south of Lethem and about 12 miles southeast of Parikwarinawa village, received 4 solar PV systems totaling 1960 Watts Peak, 6 solar powered freezers, two energy efficient wood stoves and two solar dryers under the project.
With a population of 775 persons, Shulinab’s primary economic activities are fishing, tourism, livestock, fruit processing and craft. Based on the assessment conducted it was realized that there was need for refrigerators to store meat, processed fruits and perishable items for the ‘hot meals’ programme that benefitted about 36 students on a daily basis. Given that one of the village’s main economic activity is fruit processing, the need for energy efficient dryers and stoves was also recommended.
Having recently completed the last of the installations, GEA visited Shulinab and learnt that the project has significantly benefitted the village. Ms. Joan Stevens who is in charge of the ‘Hot Meals’ programme and snackette indicated that they are extremely grateful for the solar PV system that her group received and the solar powered freezer. “Since we received it we have been able to add items to the list of things we sell. We now offer icicles, custard, cool down and ice,” she said.
Ms. Stevens further enthused that they were also able to “… offer meat balls and patties as we now have somewhere to store the meat”.
Given that one of the objectives of the project was the generation of new income GEA’s officers were interested in finding out whether this objective was achieved. To this end, Ms. Stevens eagerly displayed her accounting ledger and explained that “…because of the additional items we now offer we have been able double our profits”. “Prior to receiving the PV system and freezer we use to make 20-25 thousand dollars in profit per month now we make 45-50 thousand per month”, she said proudly. Further, in order to generate even more income, they have recently used some of the profit they made to “….add a stationary section to the canteen”.
The additional profit, also allowed for them to employ 3 women and they are seeking to employ a fourth “someone skilled in pastry making as we want to further broaden the list of items we are offering in the snackette to generate even more income.” She said that the icicle, cool down and custard are a hit with the children and even some adults, so each day’s supply was usually sold out “…which means that at the end of each day we have to make a fresh set.”
Stepping over to the village office, which also serves as the meat centre, Mr. Calvan Josey who operates the centre, had a similar account as that of Ms. Stevens. He indicated that the village Council had 200 heads of cattle while the village had about 600. Expressing how much the village has benefitted from the PV system and freezer that the office received he explained that “…before we use to slaughter once a month…so villagers only got fresh meat once a month”. He further explained that whatever meat was left back they would have to pickle or salt…“Because of the freezer villagers can get fresh meat to purchase all the time as we can now store the meat in the freezer”. According to Mr. Josey, since the installation of the PV system and freezer they recorded sales totaling “one million and forty-three thousand dollars”.
Energy Engineer Brian Constantine, GEA’s representative on the project, explained that part of the sustainability component of the project includes each group being required to pay a subscription fee of fifteen thousand dollars per month to the Village Council. “This fee will be used to sustain the equipment that village has received. Therefore, should any repairs be needed for either the PV systems or Refrigerators the Council will have money to facilitate those repairs”, he explained. When asked Ms. Stevens, who also assists with the villages’ accounts, indicated that each group has been paying their rental fees as agreed. These payments totaled over $160,000 for the period January to May 2017.
The women’s group who received two solar freezers, a solar PV system, two energy efficient cook stoves and two solar dryers indicated that though they have used the freezers for storage of ice, icicle and beverage, in October when the fruits that they process are in season, they will commence full use of the items they have received.
It is hoped that the projects would serve as an enhancement of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by fostering interest and support from Guyana’s private sector in replicating, advancing and/or expanding the project (s) based on the outcomes and experiences.
Both Ms. Stevens and Mr. Calvan expressed thanks to OLADE, the Canadian Government and GEA on behalf of the Toshao Mr. Nicholas Fredericks who was away on business at the time of GEA’s visit. The project will continue to be monitored by representatives of all the stakeholders involved to ensure that there is continued compliance with the objectives.
KINGSTON - Following major rehabilitative upgrades, the MV Barima has significantly reduced its travel time, a move that has been deemed as “historic” by the management of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD).
According to Yurlander Haynes, General Manager (ag) of T&HD, the MV Barima made its maiden trip to the North-West District on Friday April 21 in an unprecedented 21 hours. Typically, the journey takes 30-40 hours, she said. The vessel returned to Georgetown on Wednesday April 26.
The recommissioning of the MV Barima means that the residents of the North-West District will have more frequent service – at least two trips each in Port Kaituma and Kumaka. Previously, the Lady Northcote was making two trips to Kumaka and just one to Port Kaituma each month. Now, this number will increase and passengers will spend less time travelling.
The MV Barima was decommissioned in early March after being docked for rehabilitation since November 2015. It included the replacement and repair of underwater fittings, including the propellers and rudders; scraping and painting of the hull; installation of two main engines; painting of the interior and exterior of the ferry; installation of new seats for the passengers; and the upgrade of crew cabins. The ferry also benefited from improved safety thanks to 250 new life jackets and the addition of fire extinguishers. The project cost was $150.6M.
KINGSTON - Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Annette Ferguson, conducted ministerial outreaches to the communities of Mahaicony and Parika on Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23, 2017, respectively.
The purpose of the outreaches was to gain feedback from the residents and listen to their concerns on their communities, with the ultimate goal of rectifying these issues as expeditiously as possible.
In Mahaicony, Minister Ferguson met with residents and local councillors and, during fruitful discussions, made note of the major issues. Among these issues were insufficient electricity supply and a need for improved roads, drainage and irrigation, and increased agricultural opportunities. Concerns were also raised on youth unemployment and the lack of recreational facilities.
In response, Minister Ferguson gave her commitment to look into the issues and address them, where possible. She reminded the residents of the Ministry’s annual budgetary allocations and the need to meet these previously outlined obligations. However, she said, efforts will be made to offer some solution to the raised issues within this year. If not, she added, the issues would receive priority in the 2018 National Budget.
Meanwhile, similar concerns were raised by residents when Minister Ferguson visited Parika. On that occasion, Minister Ferguson met with the residents along with councillors from the Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and heard about concerns on sea defence; the occupation of Government reserves; insufficient water and electricity supplies; and the need for recreational facilities.
She noted that many of the issues were on the Local Government level but she indicated that Central Government will strive to assist. She also committed to revisiting the community to conduct a walkthrough of sites identified as being in urgent need of infrastructural intervention.
In both communities, Minister Ferguson emphasised that not all issues raised fell under the Infrastructure Ministry but would be forwarded on to the relevant agencies and ministries for a comprehensive approach.
(KINGSTON) The nine-member board of directors of the Power Producer & Distributors Inc. (PPDI) was this morning, April 4, 2017, officially installed during a simple ceremony at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
The members of the company’s board are: Chairman, Mr. Mark Bender; Chief Executive Officer of PPDI, Mr. Arron Fraser; Secretary, Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith; Ms. Verlyn Klass; Mr. Stephen Fraser; Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir; Permanent Secretary of MPI, Mr. Geoffrey Vaughn; and Mr. Harryram Parmesar. The ninth member is currently uninstalled and this vacancy has been left for a member of the Parliamentary Opposition, who is yet to be appointed by the Opposition.
In his charge to the board members, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, expressed confidence in the PPDI and in its ability to maintain the high standards set by its predecessor in delivering a cost efficient service matching all key performance indicators. He added that PPDI was born from the need to drive efficiency and maximise the use of local capacity.
Minister Patterson also emphasised the significant cost-saving benefits: an estimated US$3.73 per MW or US$2.4M per year, based on a consumption of 650,000 MW. Besides cost, he also noted that capacity was a key consideration and he stressed that the company will continue to be manned by a 100 percent Guyanese workforce which has, over the years, demonstrated increased competency, such as the completion of challenging maintenance activities and major overhauls in significantly less time than Wartsila.
“Additionally, the retention of generated profits will facilitate the investment in people and new equipment as we prepare for future opportunities,” Minister Patterson said.
He concluded by wishing the board members well and urged them to transfer their skills and previous successes to the oversight of PPDI.
“To you, the members of the Board, you were carefully selected and assembled to oversee the operations of PPDI because you bring a wealth of diverse but relevant competencies and experiences necessary for its success,” he said. “Though diverse, your competencies and experiences provide an opportunity for excellent synergies, which only augers well for the future of PPDI.”
Similarly, Minister within the Ministry, Annette Ferguson, noted the wealth of experience and knowledge of the board members and urged them to use these qualities in regards to the Government’s vision of a green economy. “With your experience and ideas, I hope you will be able to enhance and meet the vision of the greening of Guyana by 2025.” She further thanked them for accepting their posts and wished them well.
In response, new Chairman, Mr. Bender, thanked the ministers on behalf of the board and indicated his pleasure in the company having gained the experience of Wartsila through its capacity. He also said that satisfactory electricity supply is a key component of development and pledged his commitment and dedication to his duty, while employing best practices, in service to the Government and the people of Guyana.
The newly installed board is expected to meet shortly to discuss significant plans and chart a course for PPDI’s success.
(KINGSTON) The Director Maritime Safety, Maritime Administration Department, John Flores travelled with a team of officers from MARAD to the areas of Imbamadai and Kamarang in the Upper Mazaruni River on March 15, 2017. The visit was to conduct River Navigation training for boat operators which was held at the Warawatta Multi-Purpose building in Kamarang.
Thirty (30) boat operators participated in the training session. The participants were drawn from Quebanang, Waramadong, Jawalla, Phillipi, Kako, and Kamarang.
Operators were briefed on River Navigation and Safety Regulations by Capt. John Flores who encouraged the operators to practice the river safety rules while traversing the waterways.
A Deputy River Navigation Officer from MARAD, David Mittlehozer highlighted to the operators the importance of the river navigation regulations which are currently in effect in the riverain areas. Non-adherence to these regulations can lead to prosecution, Mr. Mittlehozer admonished.
At the end of the training, ten (10) operators who had fulfilled the requirements, were granted certification and given licenses to operate in the Upper Mazaruni area.
Meanwhile, a team from MARAD’s Safety Division also visited the New Amsterdam and Rosignol areas in Region Six on March 15, 2017, on an outreach which involved the issuance of licenses to fishermen in that area.
With safety being high on MARAD’s agenda, training for boat operators will continue countrywide.
