KINGSTON - Post is at a crossroad. The decisions we make today will echo through time. Post has established itself to be the oldest form of communication; transforming economies, changing lives and connecting people.
As we celebrate World Post Day 2015 let us commit to ensuring that Post survives and strives for the next few hundred years. Let us innovate and integrate our peoples, systems and talents to take advantage of the unifying elements of Post.
Undoubtedly, there has been challenges, moreso wrought by the convergence of Information and Communication Technology. But within these challenges lies opportunities for Post to reinvent itself, to take advantage of the faster and more efficient means of communication.
We in Guyana need to leverage our physical infrastructure, our committed workforce who have stuck with us in the lean times and like the Egyptians in the days of Joseph, will be here in the times of plenty. We need to embrace the evolving markets segments of e-commerce and financial services, deepen our human, physical and social networks, craft strategies that will unleash innovation in our workers and ensure our collective future. The focus on Innovation, Integration and Inclusion is one which resonate with us the world over.
Moreover, we need to ensure that the changing customer demographics, their access to technology, their access to information and their networks are leveraged in a way that brings dynamism to the industry. The integrating power of post will reach out to ensure that all our digital natives, especially those at the Bottom of the Pyramid, are given access to all services. With the UN’s Sustainable Development 17 goals and 169 targets, the need for the inclusion of all our citizens into one seamless marketplace cannot be overemphasized. Post can do this!
The unbanked sector which we previously served through postal accounts, and small and medium enterprises, can all be brought into our customer mix. We need to have the right products and services to meet their needs. We need to ensure that we have the right regulatory environment, we have to ensure we have the right tools. We can and must ensure that our customers are at the center of our thrust for renewed greatness, renewed vigor and renewed pride. Pride that Post has found itself at the forefront of Innovation, Integration and Inclusiveness.
That future starts with you!! The relevance of post rests on the shoulders of a committed pool of individuals, our frontline and office workers, most of whom work tirelessly to ensure that our customers are served, regardless of the circumstances. We must all embrace change; change our thinking, change our actions and secure our future.
I wish you a happy World Post Day!
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Force Account Unit (FAU) will be painting road markings along the Rupert Craig Highway between the Russian Embassy and Ogle on Monday, October 12 to Thursday October 15, 2015.
The exercise will commence from 3 pm to 10 pm.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution.
KINGSTON - A high level Government of Guyana delegation is gearing to head to North America to meet with a number of potential investors.
The team will be looking to sell investment opportunities in Guyana.
The announcement was made by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who on Monday last said that the team will be led by Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo and will also include himself, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.
The investor’s confab stems from requests made of Head of State, President David Granger during a recent visit to the North American country.
“Several persons in the Canadian Diaspora expressed an interest in projects and investing in Guyana, some even in returning to Guyana and we were mandated to follow up on this,” Patterson told members of the local media corps.
He said the response to the planned forum thus far, has been overwhelming but he did express concern over the logistics involved in getting to meet and interact with all of the persons that would have expressed an interest.
“But we do hope in the end that we will have some concrete proposals with which we can carry to Cabinet.” Patterson told media operatives, that the confab is slated to be held from Friday to next Monday.
The Diaspora Investment Forum, according to Patterson, will on the first day see the Ministers along with a team from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) meeting with a number of large businesses.
He said during that forum, “we will make presentations on investment opportunities in the country and in the afternoon, we will schedule one-on-one meetings.”
Patterson told media operatives too, that among some of the presentations would be government’s plans to build a new Demerara Harbour Bridge as well as plans to establish four new townships and the inherent investment opportunities.
“We will be speaking to them on energy,” said Patterson, as he reminded of Government’s commitment to pursuing alternative energy sources other than the traditional fossil based fuels.
He recalled too, the administration’s desire to have all of the outlying areas, including the Essequibo islands powered by alternative energy.
Patterson cited as an example that the power generation needs of an island such as Wakenaam, could be put to investors.
That island, he said, has a demand requirement of about 2MW and potential investors in alternative energy could examine possibilities in that region which could also lend to reducing the cost paid for energy there.
“I will also be pitching to them for the airport and the security services,” said Patterson. He told members of the media that as it relates to the provision of security services at the international airport, there is a proposal from a Canadian firm but the delegation would also be looking for other proposals from interested parties.
Patterson said, while he could only speak to his Ministry’s portfolio, he is quite certain that the Ministers of Business and Public Security will also be making similar pitches for projects under their remit.
He said too that the Public Security Minister and the Prime Minister will also seek to provide some level of assurance to the potential investors on the security and safety of their investments locally. (Kaieteur News)
KINGSTON - The water taxi service, which Government implemented, as a direct response to the ‘cry’ of residents of Regions 5 and 6, is progressing quite well, as thousands are making full use of the opportunity.
The major users of the bridge, hailing from these two regions had complained of the high toll of the Berbice River Bridge, and as promised, long before elections, the now Coalition Government is making good on its commitment to offer reprieve in this regard.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, at a press conference on October 5, indicated that thus far, more than 13,600 passengers had utilised the service.
“Between the period of September 21-26, we had a total of 5,264 passengers (4,109 adults and 1,155 children and pensioners); for September 27-October 03, a total of 8,377 passengers (6,800 adults and 1,577 children and pensioners), totalling 13,641 passengers who have utilised the river taxis for the period September 21 to October 3,” Minister Ferguson explained.
She added that whilst the media is apprised of the contentions of the minibus operators, who ply Route 56, the bridge run, deliberations are ongoing between herself and the Minibus Association, to address pertinent concerns. The Minister added that, she intends to meet with the association’s members before the end of this week.
“The bus operators have reported the concern of losing income, on a daily basis, since the reintroduction of the river taxis…I am advancing a proposal with the Minister of Public Security to have their road service licence extended beyond its current boundary,” Minister Ferguson explained.
The Granger-led Administration, whilst in opposition, had expressed concerns for the high toll placed on the citizenry to cross the Berbice River Bridge, which was constructed via a public-private partnership.
Since taking office, the new Government has made proposals to subsidise for the cost of the toll reduction, which would have seen a steady decrease in tolls for commuters, thereby bringing relief. However, the proposal to the Berbice River Bridge Corporation was rejected, and wanting to honour the commitment made, Government implemented a water taxi service for the complaining residents. (GINA)
KINGSTON - The announcement by Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) management to discontinue its London route service in January 2016 was one that was anticipated for some now and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) had long since commenced the groundwork to attract airlines to fly this route.
‘In recent month, we have ramped up our efforts to have a major European Carrier provide airlift to Guyana. This is to facilitate easy travel for the estimated 100,000 Guyanese living in the United Kingdom and the many European visitors that want to come and experience Destination Guyana” stated David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure.
A delegation from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Tourism will meet Executives of several airlines at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, United Kingdom from November 2 to 5, 2015 to actualize negotiations.
“WTM is considered the leading global event for the travel industry, which will offer our delegation a unique opportunity to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business,” the Minister added.
Simultaneously, a team headed by Minister Patterson and Ramesh Ghir, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation will continue ongoing negotiations with several North American airlines at their respective Headquarters in the United States. Only recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Carl Grenidge, met and was updated on Jet Blue’s plan to provide airlift to Guyana.
The expansion of Cheddi Jagan International Airport, introduction of additional fuel facility at CJIA, modernization of the Air Traffic Control Facility and aggressive tourism marketing are all part of the CRG commitment to providing affordable airlift for visitors to Destination Guyana.
Further, the Ministry will work closely with CAL’s management to ensure that passengers who are displaced will be refunded or accommodated on other flights.
KINGSTON - The Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, Jernej Videtič, paid a courtesy visit on Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, on October 7, 2015 at their Wight’s Lane office.
Ambassador Videtič used the opportunity to reaffirm the EU's commitment to working with Guyana in its development process. Guyana-EU cooperation commenced over 40 years ago with priorities including sea defences and transport infrastructure, inter alia, the Bartica/Berbice ferry services; the Demerara bridge rehabilitation; and the Ogle Airport extension.
During the meeting the two parties discussed on-going projects. These included the "Power Utility Upgrade Programme" which is co‑financed by an EU grant of €19.3 million and a loan by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) of USD $37.6 million.
The project, which is being administered via Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., is geared at enhancing the operational efficiency and corporate performance of the utility company. It will cater to the upgrading of infrastructure to reduce energy and revenue loss while also improving GPL's management and administrative efficiency.
It was agreed by the two parties that close monitoring of project implementation is necessary to make best use of available resources.
Ambassador Videtic and the Ministers also discussed ongoing cooperation programmes on sea defences, including capacity-building and training, strengthening the functionalities of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), opportunities for studies in renewable energy, and the exploration of possible future EU‑Guyana collaboration in the area of renewable energy, transport infrastructure, tourism and logistics.
KINGSTON - Beginning tomorrow, October 5, 2015 officials from the Government’s Electrical Inspectorate – a department that falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) - will begin visual inspections on commercial businesses to ensure electrical units are properly installed and insulated.
According to Joseph Peters, one of the Ministry’s Electrical Engineers, the exercise will commence in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10.
“By law we are required to do so. We have to ensure that there are no electrical hazards,” Peters added.
The department’s role as the industry’s Electrical Safety Regulatory Body is to protect users of electricity against the hazard of unsafe and improper electrical installation.
Further, the department, through its maintenance division, is tasked with carrying out routine electrical maintenance, the preparation of electrical estimates and designs, supervision of contractual works and consultation for Government Buildings.
KINGSTON - The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) will be increasing its complement of technical staff in the respective Regions to ensure greater supervision of all infrastructural works across Guyana.
David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure, made this disclosure at joint press conference with Annette Ferguson, Minister within MPI, a few weeks ago.
“We will enable the placement of at least two Engineers in each Region…this initiative will boost the level of personnel available and will ensure proper monitoring,” Minister Patterson told journalists.
The only requirement of the Regions is the provision of suitable accommodation to house the technical personnel, the Minister added.
Implementation of this plan will take effect by the first quarter of 2016.
Meanwhile, contractors were encouraged to completed and/or correct any infrastructural outstanding projects allocated by the Ministry.
“Going forward we are also advising all contractors with ‘legacy issues’ with the Ministry to have them resolved. Failure to do this will result in MPI disqualifying the supplier or contractor, under authority which it is granted within the Procurement Act,” the Minister indicated.
The Procurement Act 2003 and subsequent Procurement Regulations defines the procedures for all Procuring Entities in Guyana except procurement involving national defence or national security, its provisions covers all goods, services and works.
It allows for the accountability, responsibility and transparency of the procurement process.
KINGSTON - Rehabilitation of sea and river defence structures in Regions Three, Four and Six should commence shortly.
According to Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is currently in the process of finalizing the evaluation of works to be done on 15 lots of Sea and River Defence countrywide.
“Before the end of this week we will be able to make submissions to the National Procurement and Tender Board Administration which would then will review the tenders made then proceed to award tenders. We are expecting works to commence early October,” Samad explained.
An amount of $1.4B was allocated in the 2015 National Budget to be expended on sea and river defense. With this allocation, structures in Regions Two, Three, Four, Six and Seven would be improved to ensure that the vulnerability of flooding due to overtopping is reduced.
The government has committed to investing heavily in the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of critical sections of the country’s sea and river defence infrastructure over the next five years, utilizing sustainable and cost-effective designs and solutions.
In addition to the investments, the government plans to develop new and integrated coastal zone policies and strategies to ensure an integrated approach to delivering sustainable sea and river defence management. The National Mangrove Management Action plan will be updated and implemented so as to strengthen the coastal zone management system.
I read with some sense of alarm the People Progressive Party’s (PPP) desperate attempt to besmirch the integrity of my Ministry and by extension my Government’s efforts to improve the lives of Guyanese.
As the Minister of Public Infrastructure, I have been accommodating to the media fraternity since I am a firm believer in freedom of the press, and embrace democracy. However, what I abhor is amateur and unprofessional journalism, because it creates strife. The PPP’s statement earlier today describing me as insensitive and disrespectful is testament of such journalism.
The Party’s statement referred to a September 22, 2015 newspaper article, which alluded that an “official call” and “formal” complaint that had to be made to the Ministry before the Essequibo Coast and North West District residents can have their issues addressed.
Let me make this clear. A question was asked, via telephone, whether my Ministry had received any complaint [formal or informal] of the transportation woes in the Essequibo Coast and North West District. My response was no. That was the extent of my conversation on the subject.
The article also suggested that emphasis was placed on initiating a water taxi service - to fulfill a campaign promise - on the Berbice River to alleviate the fare residents paid to cross the Berbice Bridge.
Prior to the coalition emerging victorious in the May 11 elections – we heard the concerns of the Guyanese throughout the length and breadth of this beautiful country. The high cost to travel across the bridge was raised, and as a responsible Government, we put measures in place to effect change.
During the 10th Parliament, the coalition the then Opposition, advocated for lower Berbice Bridge tolls. During the debate in May 2014, Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya, speaking for the Alliance For Change (AFC) lamented the pressure and daily financial pressures Berbicians face in having to pay the fares. He said that his party also believed that the tolls are way too much and should be lowered.
He recommended to the then PPP government that free buses be provided for students if the toll would not be reduced and that the ferry service be reintroduced as an alternative for Berbice commuters. Despite the House passing the Motion, Robeson Benn, the then Minster of Public Works said his Government will not reduce the toll.
Further, the major issues raised along the Essequibo Coast were the cost of paddy and the ferry service delays - something we are currently working to correct.
Unfortunately, my initial lack of response is now being used as a weapon by the Opposition to score extremely cheap political mileage.
Sincerely
David Patterson
