KINGSTON - The Government of Guyana in collaboration with the United States Coast Guard on October 9 carried out the country’s national level maritime port security exercise and evaluation.
The exercise is intended to test and evaluate the response, efficiency and preparedness of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Ambulance Service and the Guyana Coast Guard should there be an attempted act of terrorism in the country’s internationally recognised port facilities. Today’s exercise was conducted at SOL’s port in Agricola.
Dwain Nurse, Chief Port Security Officer, explained that it was a national exercise required by the International Port and Security Code. The codes states that all ports handling international ships are required to conduct such an exercise at least once a year, but not exceeding eight months.
The exercise focused on the transporting of arms to Berbice for a “criminal” in Agricola who had infiltrated the officers at the base. The moving of weapons by water method was chosen by the “criminal” due to increased patrols on the East Bank Demerara and West Coast Berbice.
The members of the facility has gotten wind of the ‘criminal’s plan’ and have conducted a search finding 300 rounds of ammunition. The police were called in and conducted an investigation. It was then found that the ‘criminal’ planned to escape by water and as such the Coast Guard and Police Marine Corps would deal with that aspect of the exercise.
The evaluation phase of the exercise would see the US Coast Guard Service and the Guyana Government assessing the outcome and fine tuning the methods of application of the agencies participating.
Eric May, of the US Coast Guard, International Port Security Programme explained that they were invited by Government to evaluate the exercise. Noting that it was going well, he added that since the implementation of the Code, a security plan was required by all ports which must be tested. He noted that testing Guyana’s plan, in addition to Government’s response is the best move with Government capturing the lessons learnt and improving the process.
Upon successful completion and evaluation of the simulation exercise, Guyana would now be declared prepared strategically to handle security emergencies at all international port facilities.
KINGSTON - Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, said that this year offers more capacity in terms of carriers and seat availability hence the additional competition will lead to better prices for the travelling public.
“Over the years we have worked diligently to ensure additional airlift into and out of Guyana thus offering the passengers more choice of carriers to different destinations. We have been successful in that mission since during the last year we have seen new services being offered by Conviasa, Insel Air, COPA Airlines and Fly Jamaica. This sort of achievement within such a short period of time is unprecedented in the aviation industry.”
Depending on their final destination, passengers wishing to travel to the United States of America can now do so via Caribbean Airlines (CAL), COPA Airlines, Insel Air, Suriname Airways (SLM) and Fly Jamaica.
COPA, Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines offer services to New York while SLM, COPA and CAL offer services Miami.
In the case of Travel Span, Minister Benn said that the MPW is in constant contact with its management and has been assured that all passengers with tickets will be fully refunded. Travel Span recently exited the market as a result of issues with is carrier.
“I wish to remind that the Government of Guyana has always had an interest in protecting the consumer and for this reason we put in place an escrow account where new non-scheduled carriers are required to deposit monies which can be used to refund passengers if the airline suspends their operations.”
The Ministry continues to pursue additional airlift to Guyana and only last week two of its senior officials attended the World Routes Conference where meetings were held with several legacy and low cost carriers who expressed an interest in offering services to the North American and European markets.
“There is no doubt that Guyana is an attractive market for some of these carriers since a large number of Guyanese live in the Diaspora in North America and the United Kingdom. The fact that our economy has shown positive growth in the last eight years is an added bonus since there is a direct link between passenger growth and positive GDP in any market,” Minister Benn stated
The airport expansion project, the Minister added, is a prime selling point for potential investors.
“I am therefore calling on Mr. Joseph Harmon and my colleagues in the opposition to support Government in its effort to attract these new carriers by simply embracing our infrastructure developmental plan. The current runway and terminal do not have the capacity to accommodate long haul carriers from Europe and more economical aircraft to North America, and this is hampering our negotiations with these carriers.”
Minister Benn reiterated that “the aviation sector has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. There is still room for growth if we can set aside partisan politics and do what is right for Guyana and its people.”
KINGSTON - The Ministry of Public Works continues to effect its Highway Lighting Project, which emphasizes lighting for areas vulnerable to accidents.
A recent survey carried out by Ministry’s Traffic & Highway Lights Unit on Thursday, September 18h, 2014 along the Stanleytown Area and Republic Road in New Amsterdam, East Bank Berbice, established the areas considered to be highly unsafe, especially where there were dark spots, for the installation of new lights and repairs to defective lights.
A preliminary budget has been formulated, and approval to fund the maintenance project will be finalized by Friday, October 3, 2014. By employing the Ministry’s prequalified contractors in a bidding process, work would likely start by the end of October, 2014.
The Ministry views the article in the “Kaieteur News” of September 30, 2014 wherein some Stanleytown residents were said to be accusing the Government of “neglect and discrimination” as a dishonest attempt by some individuals to “piggyback” on the certitude of the highway lights being imminently emplaced in Stanleytown.
The Ministry of Public Works Highway Lighting Projects will continue based on the availability of resources, safety prioritization, and the time scheduling necessary to have safe optimum emplacement.
No other considerations are relevant.
The Ministry continues to urge for the care and protection against vandalism of the lighting systems once activated.
KINGSTON - The first phase of the current dredging in the Essequibo River by the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge "STEVE N" is expected to conclude in another two weeks time.
However, the Department’s Hydrographic surveyors will be surveying the area to ascertain its depth before the vessel is withdrawn from the area.
The Dredge "STEVE N" commenced dredging in the Essequibo River at Chalmers Crossing on September 17, 2014. This represented part of the plan by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to dredge the shallow areas of the Essequibo River that currently impede the movement of ships.
The Steve N will resume dredging in the Demerara Main Ships' Channel, and alongside wharves in the Demerara River at the completion of its dredging activity in the Essequibo River.
KINGSTON - The stretch of road between miles 4 and 5 Bartica/Isano road has been completed.
According to Lawrence Mentis - head of Force Account Unit (FAU), Ministry of Public Works - the road was filled, graded, shaped and compacted with loam.
Work is still ongoing on the critical sections of the roadway between miles 1 and 4.
“That is 70 percent completed and we are looking for an October 15, 2014 deadline,” Mr. Mentis stated. For those sections, the FAU is using asphaltic concrete.
Furthermore, 3,000 meters of concrete drains will be constructed along the critical sections. Work is expected to commence October 2, 2014.
The entire project is costing the Ministry approximately GY $89M.
KINGSTON - At approximately 15:50 hours on Thursday September 25, 2014, the Transport & Harbours Department (T&H.D) vessel “Sandaka” and a small passenger boat “Akeela” collided with each other in the Essequibo River, just off the Parika Stelling.
The incident occurred as the Sandaka which serves the Leguan to Parika route was mooring alongside the Parika Stelling, while the master of the Akeela refused to move his boat from the position alongside which is reserved for the T&H.D’s vessels.
The Akeela operates the Parika –Wakenaam – Supenaam service and had twenty three persons (23) on board, and as the collision seemed imminent, some of its passengers jumped overboard.
Some minor injuries were reported but there were no fatalities, and the AKEELA suffered some damages but no damages were reported on the MV Sandaka.
Officers from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) are investigating this incident.
KINGSTON - At approximately 13:00 hours today, Friday September 26, 2014 two vessels collided in the Mazaruni River, in the vicinity of an area known as All-boys.
One is an aluminum hull passenger vessel and is propelled by two water jets. The other is a wooden passenger/cargo boat and was being propelled by a 200 Horsepower outboard engine.
As a result of the collision, a fire ensued and quickly engulfed the wooden vessel causing a female passenger to be burned extensively, and she subsequently died.
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has sent a team to the Mazaruni area to commence an investigation into this incident.
KINGSTON - The United Nations has set aside a day [SEPTEMBER 25] in recognition of those who are active in the maritime sector both at sea and ashore. Here in Guyana we depend upon ships, boats and resources to facilitate commerce and the movement of people through the network of seemingly innumerable rivers and along our lengthy coastline and in our maritime space.
Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) was established specifically to administer matters relating to shipping specifically and the maritime sector in general. MARAD’s mandate is extensive and consistently challenging, nevertheless this agency is expected to ensure, inter alia, that the ships and boats operating in Guyana, and Guyanese ships wherever they are can operate seamlessly and safely.
It is noticeable that the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day’s observance “IMO conventions: effective implementation”, identifies that globally there are anxieties with respect to the pace of implementation of the various conventions of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The Ministry of Public Works and MARAD are pursuing initiatives with stakeholders on issues relating to safety, security, port development and training in the sector so as to ensure its sustainability and contributions to the national effort.
I wish to assure the Guyanese public, seafarers and all those involved in the maritime sector that the Government of Guyana is committed to the advancement of the maritime sector, including the ratification and implementation of the major conventions of the IMO.
I wish everyone in the sector well, particularly the seafarers who labour at sea and wish to publicly recognise their contribution to the well-being of the Guyanese economy and people.
Thank You
TIMEHRI - Sixteen Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) successfully completed a self-defense programme on September 24, 2014 that demanded technical, professional and physical expertise in the area of martial arts as a defense against any threat.
The programme, the first of its kind, ran for two weeks.
A second batch will go through the rigorous exercise by a Guyana Defense Force (GDF) Officer next Monday, September 29, 2014 at Timehri.
According Alvin Majeed, CJIA’s Senior Aerodrome Officer and head of the ASO Unit, every ASO is required to demonstrate the level of his/her operational proficiency when confronted by a hostile airport user.
He emphasized that the techniques taught are not to harm or injure anyone but to subdue the individual.
“These fighting and defensive techniques were developed and upgraded for our ASOs to help them during both routine and emergency exercises,” he further stated. “We are doing this type of training - fighting and defensive methods in order to protect civilians, airport users, passengers and even airport employees themselves.”
Participants’ feedback
Tonia D’Oliveira, one of the 11 females that participated, said the she feels more confident “as a woman and professional”.
“It was intense and the techniques I learn will go a long way in executing my duties. I am more focused,” she added.
Randy Shurry, who is an ASO for the past four years, said the training opened a door of knowledge for him and his colleagues.
“We now have a broader scope of how to defend ourselves. The only time I saw martial arts was on television, I am privileged to be part of the real time experience,” Mr. Shurry stated.
Meanwhile, Ivelaw McNaughton recommended that such as an exercise should be done on a regular basis. Similarly, Seon Sertimer, felt invigorated and wished the programme could have lasted forever.
“Apart from learning self defense all of us lost weight,” he admitted.
The ASO Unit was established in November, 2009. The mandate of the unit is to improve security at CJIA on a daily basis.
KINGSTON - The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) wishes to express its outrage at the continuous stealing and vandalism of its marine Aids to Navigation.
In September 2013, two buoys were stolen which were placed in the Essequibo River near to Kaow Island, to mark the Rattlesnake Rock. In April 2014, the Modder Bush buoy was stolen or otherwise removed from its position in the Essequibo River near the Leguan Island. Also the lights on two other buoys were stolen as they moor in the river near to Leguan, Wakenaam and Hogg Islands.
The Aids to Navigation in Guyana are floating buoys and fixed beacons which are strategically positioned in or near the waterways to guide mariners safely. They also mark wrecks and other dangers to navigation.
Even though MARAD has launched an investigation into the disappearance of these Aids to Navigation, it is soliciting help from members of the public with any information that will lead to the recovery of its aids to Navigations which in the above mentioned instances cost approximately seven million dollars ($7,000,000.00).
