KINGSTON - The Ministry of Public Infrastructure in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) wish to advise that the high water levels – when the tide is high – is caused by a damaged gate groove in the concrete (sill) of the sluice.
Every effort will be made to correct the defect in the upcoming dry period as the sluice will have to be blocked off at the inlet and outlet in order to remove the door and repair the damaged sill groove.
KINGSTON - Georgetown, Region 4, over the past 26 hours, has experienced approximately 106.3mm of rainfall.
According to the Hydro-meteorological office, Central Georgetown recorded 27.9 mm of rainfall between 8 am and 10 am – June 19, 2015.
Mechanical pumping of sluices began from 08:30 am and water was drained by gravity until 15:30 h.
The tide is now rising and at 19:00 h it will be at its highest. Low tide will occur around 21:00 h. In the meantime, the five pumps along the Demerara River have commenced pumping water off the ground. It is apt to note that the Liliendaal and Kitty pumps are in operation at all times.
At 21:30 h mechanical pumping of the sluice will resume until 3:00 h, June 20, 2015.
Providing there is no rainfall, waters will recede off the land during the course of tomorrow.
KINGSTON - The overwhelming support to the clean-up campaign has prompted David Patterson, the Public Infrastructure Minister, to identify a Community Coordinator to liaise with communities to remove the debris/garbage.
Neilson McKenzie, who has been actively involved in education, agriculture and community development for over 35 years, was today, June 17, 2015 busy making arrangements to have trucks remove rubbish and debris from B Field Sophia and in the South and East Ruimveldt areas.
“From my interactions with the residents it appears that this Saturday and Sunday will be hectic. Residents in these areas have indicated that they will continue with their massive cleanup exercises but they need assistance with the removal of dirt/garbage,” Mr. McKenzie stated.
Jamal Daley and Colin Corbon, two young residents from B Field Sophia, are enthusiastic with the initiative and have already arranged a team of young men to come out this week-end to continue the cleanup exercise. Similar arrangements are in place for the Ramsingh Street, B Field Sophia.
According to Mr. McKenzie, assistance is readily available to communities in disposing their rubbish. The hotline to call for help is 223-1844.
A face to the exercise
The appointment of the Community Coordinator, Hon. Patterson explained, is to “have a face to the initiative.”
“We can’t have a hotline and not have a central person to conduct follow-ups and action work. The Coordinator will now be responsible for that,” he said.
The Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Communities along with National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) are providing the equipment for the project.
Further, Minister Patterson expressed his appreciation and thanks to members of the communities who have participated in cleanup exercise.
He is optimistic that that Mr. McKenzie, a true consummate professional, will get the job done.
“Mr. McKenzie has served in senior capacities in the private sector, and as a Project Manager on a European Union (EU) sponsored programme. He is also actively involved in both community and farmers’ development in Regions Four and Five,” added Minister Patterson.
KINGSTON - Traffic flowed again on Monday afternoon, June 15, 2015 on the Liliendaal Bridge following a weeklong closure to carry out extensive works to fortify the structure.
The bridge reopened around 17:00 h.
Repairs to the bridge’s structure were executed by Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), while its surfacing was done by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Force Account Unit (FAU).
An estimated cost of the project is GY $12M.
KINGSTON - Hon. David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure (MPI), has sought the assistance from the United States of America to provide technical assistance and regulatory oversight for Guyana’s maritime and aviation sectors.
He made the petition to Bryan Hunt, US Chargé d'Affaires to Guyana, who paid a courtesy call on the Minister, at the Ministry’s Conference Room yesterday, June 15, 2015.
The establishment of a Document Management System was also discussed.
“We need a central depository where information from all the Ministry’s departments and agencies will be accessible to staff and the general public,” the Minister added.
Guyana and Washington have enjoyed a relationship that have seen Guyana benefitting from financial and technical support in areas including health, security and youths.
KINGSTON - Less than two weeks after being sworn in as Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Annette Ferguson ‘kick-started’ a familiarization assessment of ongoing projects in Region Six.
On June 5, 2015, Ms. Ferguson, one of the youngest Ministers within the new Government, visited Bushlot, Corentyne where she was able to gauge the recently completed sea defence work in the area. The Minister also toured the Canawaima Management Company, which operates the ferry service between Guyana and Suriname.
“I am a firm believer in being on the ground to get a better understanding of what is happening. I have taken an oath to be a Minister for the people which I intend to fulfill 110 percent,” Hon. Ferguson stated.
Her visit to the Canawaima- Moleson Creek Terminal- gave her an opportunity to evaluate management’s operations of the ferry service which operates twice daily from Moleson Creek, Corentyne to Nickerie, Suriname.
Canawaima has reportedly recorded a steady increase in passengers over the past three years and based on the company’s 2014 statistics, approximately 132,625 passengers used the ferry service during that year. Minister Ferguson stated that the increase in passenger flow augurs well for the country’s economy, and as a growing hub, several initiatives, including food and craft concessions, are being considered for the terminal building.
“The management is amenable to such avenues which we will explore in depth,” Hon. Ferguson divulged.
Apart from Canawaima, the Minister’s portfolio includes overseeing: Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD); Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB); Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA); Guyana Post Office Corporation; Public Utilities Commission and Hinterland Electrification Company Inc.
Despite a youthful appearance, Hon. Ferguson has a wealth of experience and qualifications in Management.
Prior to her Ministerial appointment, she worked assiduously as a Field Support Officer, USAID (Admin), as was instrumental in strengthening Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) in resources policies and practices.
She was involved, for many years, advocating social issues, with specific focus on life counseling, HIV/AIDS support, adolescence guidance and counseling and domestic disputes. She also collaborated and facilitated coordination with NGOs, FBOs and Community Based organizations with a bias for social issues, inclusive of children, education, health and family.
Further, during her tenure as the Properties Manager of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) – 2004 to 2008 - Ms. Ferguson, among her many duties managed and advised Management in relation to the Corporation’s real properties, managed projects undertaken by the Corporation, evaluated, awarded and supervised contracts, designed job specifications for contractors, prepared monthly reports for Management and prepared the Corporation’s yearly budget and Bills of Quantities.
As such, Ms. Ferguson has acquired a unique set of skills which includes Strategic Planning, Proposal and Report writing, Project Management and Events Co-ordination.
She is currently pursuing a Law Degree at the University of London, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (Credit) and a B. Sc in Public Management from the University of Guyana.
Other academic accomplishments include: Diplomas from the University of Guyana in Social Work, Public Management and Postgraduate Diploma in Administration (ed.); Certificate in Project Management from UG/Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution, UG/Clark Atlanta University.
KINGSTON - Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, today June 12, 2015 paid a courtesy call to the country’s Public Infrastructure Ministers at their Wight’s Lane office.
The visit was to congratulate Hon. David Patterson and Hon. Annette Ferguson, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on their appointments and discussed issues of bilateral interest in the infrastructure sector.
Mr. Mahalingam also updated the Ministers on Exim Bank’s Government of India Line of Credit (LOC) offer of US$50M for the East Bank/East Coast road linkages.
Mr. Mahalingamsaid India was ready to partner with the Ministry to develop works which will stimulate growth in the economy.
KINGSTON - There is some relief in sight for the more than 40 Venezuelan passengers who were stranded in Guyana following a decision by the Guyana Government, via the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), not to allow Venezuelan state-owned airline, Conviasa Airlines to land in the country over the non-payment of its bond.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, with responsibility for the transportation sector said on Sunday, June 7, 2015, permission has been given for a “one-off flight” to take those who were stranded back to their native country.
It was revealed previously that Conviasa owed landing and administration fees to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the GCAA. In addition, the airline has never lodged a bond for its operations in Guyana.
Minister Patterson stated that the airline has paid the monies owed to the CJIA and GCAA, but is still to lodge the bond with the Guyana Government.
It is standard procedure that airlines operating out of Guyana would usually have to lodge a bond in case there is a need to cater for passengers affected by issues which may negatively affect their flights in and out of the country.
Conviasa commenced its inaugural flight on November 22, 2013 with a direct service from Puerto Ordaz to CJIA.
KINGSTON - The desilting and cleaning of several major canals in and around the city of Georgetown are moving apace in an effort of providing flood relief and enhancing irrigation in vulnerable areas.
The multi-faceted initiative involves the following agencies: the Force Account Unit (FAU)-Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI); National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) –Ministry of Agriculture and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
Today, June 6, 2015, the FAU in collaboration with the M&CC commenced cleaning the concrete lined canal along the Avenue of the Republic in the vicinity of the High Court.
Meanwhile, desilting of the Cummings (Lamaha Street) canal from Vlissengen Road is continuing westbound. However, Walter Willis, Technical Advisor of MPI, disclosed that workers are facing a dilemma since the Gandhi Youth and Muslim Youth Organization’s fence is on top of the northern edge of the canal which means that the excavator has no room to maneuver.
“What that means is that they have occupied the reserves, so that section could not be completely desilted. A resolution will have to be sought to straighten out the issue,” the Technical Advisor added.
Nonetheless, two excavators – a short reach and a long reach – are desilting the Cummings canal going east from Middleton Street to the Sheriff Street Bridge. Mr. Willis added that works will continue on towards the Liliendaal Pump Station going through Sophia.
Meanwhile, two dredging contractors accompanied Mr. Willis today to inspect the Kingston, Lamaha, Sussex Street and Meadow Bank South outfalls to determine the magnitude of equipment and manpower needed to execute the desilting exercise. The contractors will submit their priced proposals to the MPI on Monday, June 8, 2015.
Another contractor inspected the covered section of the inlet channel leading to the Lamaha Street sluice. This channel is a tunnel under the Transport and Harbours Department Workshop, Lamaha Street, which leads to the inlet at Urquhart Street (opposite the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board). A quotation for desilting and cleaning the tunnel will also be submitted to MPI on Monday, June 8, 2015.
In addition, a collapsed culvert heading eastward along Sophia access road was repaired by GAICO Construction Inc., a contractor hired by MPI. This project was completed today.
All of the works are being funded from the GY $75M approved by Cabinet, which was announced by Hon. David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure on June 3, 2015.
