TIMEHRI - One of first impressions passengers arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport gets of Guyana is from the interaction with the Red Cap porters and taxi drivers, which CJIA’s management intends to build on.
At a meeting held a few days ago, the airport’s Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir; Commercial and Administration Manager Durrsattie Doodnauth and Safety Officer Manmohan Balram engaged in a candid discussion with the authourized taxi drivers and Red Cap porters. It was held in the CJIA Viewing Gallery Lounge.
“You are our ambassadors and the image portrayed has to be one of professionalism,” CEO Ghir stated.
Given the fact several complaints have been laid against both drivers and porters - Ghir wanted to nip any problems in the bud before it festered. According to him, customer service is a significant boost to any airport and “our own should not be any different.”
Furthermore, a new system was unveiled to taxi drivers, which will permit a smooth and efficient shift arrangement.
“They will operate a turn system whereby passengers will go with the next taxi in line. This will eliminate individual taxi drivers themselves approaching passengers and trying to coerce them into using their service. It will be more structured and lend to be better experience for the passengers” Ghir explained
Overall, drivers agreed with the plan, which will get into effect shortly. He also acknowledged there will be teething problems that will be rectified along the way.
The CEO underscored the fact that the quality of service delivered to passengers “should and will remain top class”.
KINGSTON - Top traffic officers, members of several minibus associations and minibus operators converged at the Public Works Ministry recently to discuss measures aimed at alleviating the number of accidents and tackle road safety measures.
According to Chief Works Officer, Geoffrey Vaughn, frank opinions were voiced.
“Minister [Robeson] Benn initiated the meeting because he was worried about the number of accidents involving mini-buses. Areas we touched on included overloading, the haphazard way the short routes drivers use to roadways and of course signage,” Vaughn stated.
More importantly, minibus operators complained that many of the signs were painted on the roads. They recommend that more sign posts be erected and pledged to make the city’s thoroughfares more driver friendly and hassle free as possible.
To this end, Minister Benn and his team will over the “next few months’ brainstorm on medium and long measures to deal with the issues raised and take them to the associations and operators for evaluation.
OGLE - Ogle International Airport mass causality exercise was deemed a success by the country’s aviation watchdog – the Guyana Civil Aviation Authourity (GCCA).
Conducted on August 29, the exercise simulated an aircraft crash at the Ogle aerodrome with 50 plus victims, and after an evaluation by GCCA several recommendations were made to enhance the security and communication process in future exercises:
MOLESON CREEK – The MV Canawaima that plies the Guyana/Suriname route saw an increase in the number of passenger in August, due mainly to the Carifesta X1 celebration in Suriname and the July/August school break.
Data show that passengers moved were 20,556 as against 13,331 in July, an increase of 7,225 or 54.2 percent - the highest thus far for 2013. Similarly, vehicles movement were 1,952 as against 1,191 in July, an increase of 63.9 percent or761.
Meanwhile, passenger movement for the year is 99,928 as against 82,928 in 2012, an increase of 17,000 or 20.5 period over the same period last year, while vehicles totaled 8,960 as against 8,497 in 2012, an increase of 463 or 5.4 percent over the same period last year.
Both in-bound and out-bound traffic increased in the month of August. Incoming passenger were 10,067 as against 6,715 in July, an increase of 3,352 or 49.9 percent. Outgoing passenger saw a hike increased by 3,873 or 58.6 percent, this represents a movement from 6,616 in July to 10,489 August.
Vehicular traffic showed a similar trend.
Incoming vehicles were 979 as against 602 in July, an increase of 377 or 62.7 percent while outgoing vehicles moved from 589 in July to 973 in August, an increase of 384 or 65.2 percent.
TIMEHRI - Fly Jamaica Airways made its inaugural flight to Guyana on Thursday, September 26. The Jamaica-based airline was given the green light to operate two routes out of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the Guyana to New York route and the Georgetown to Toronto route.
The services will operate with a Boeing 757-200ER aircraft, with a seating configuration of 12 business and 186 economy seats.
Non-stop services from Kingston to Toronto, Canada and Toronto to Georgetown, Guyana will commence on October 8.
In a short ceremony to mark the arrival of Fly Jamaica to Guyana, Acting President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, welcomed the passengers from Jamaica stating that the new airline would add greatly to the possibilities for Guyana.
Observing that Guyana’s economy is now 10 times greater than in the late 1980s, the Prime Minister expressed hope that tourism would be part of the new change that is approaching. He urged Guyanese to improve their surroundings.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, who has responsibility for transport, highlighted the need to extend the connectivity among the countries of the region. He pointed to upcoming international events to take place within the region and which would create various opportunities. Minister Benn also explained the steps which are being taken by Guyana to better air transport, such as improving the navigation and air traffic systems.
Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali stated that the airline had added one of the most versatile and exciting tourism destinations to its routes while at the same time promoting regional integration. He noted that travel from Jamaica to Guyana has increased by 15% this year, without the presence of Fly Jamaica.
Minister Ali committed the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to working with the Jamaican Tourism Authority to create joint packaging arrangements for tourists visiting both destinations. He observed that the signing of Memorandums of Understanding is approximately six months away which will see Guyana and St. Lucia and Guyana and Barbados as common destinations.
Jamaicans artistes who arrived on the flight, including Shal Marshall, served as ambassadors for their country and enjoyed the welcome they were accorded.
GEORGETOWN – Several countries have shown interest in Guyana’s push to develop a new international airport, disclosed Robeson Benn, Minister of Public Works, who led a small delegation to the 38th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly in Montreal, Canada.
Representatives from Nigeria, Indonesia and other African countries quizzed Minister Benn on the opportunities that could be derived from the project. In-depth discussions were also held with Princess Stella Adaeze-Oduah, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister.
According to Minister Benn, he along with Director of Guyana Civil Aviation Authourity (GCCA), Zulfikar Mohamed and Guyana’s Ambassador to Canada networked with countries currently spending millions of dollars to either upgrade of build new airports.
“….countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, just to name a few,” he divulged.
The summit, which began on September 24, saw the convergence of over 1,400 delegates brainstorming and discussing a range of critical global issues including how countries and operators will cooperatively manage the projected doubling of air transport traffic now expected by 2030.
“Importantly, the delegates endorsed the revision of global safety and air navigation, affordability and sustainability,” Minister Benn added.
Meanwhile, the unilateral taxes on airfares that were enforced by the United States and the United Kingdom created some unease among delegates – with St. Vincent leading the charge. The taxes imposed, aviation pundits opined, can be attributed to the significant airfare into the region and are a deterrent to the tourism industry.
On the environmental front, international aviation is coming under more scrutiny from ICAO and sister agencies on its impact on the environment.
“ICAO has stressed repeatedly that aviation contributes just 2 per cent of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions each year and that approximately two thirds of this amount, or 1.3 per cent, are due to international flights,” the Public Works Minister explained.
The ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters are located in the Quartier International of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
KINGSTOWN - In observance of World Maritime Day 2013, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), embarked on a sanitation drive which targeted boat operators at the Georgetown and Parika Stellings.
Marine Cadets distributed hygienic kits to boat captains from the Georgetown/Vreed-en-Hoop, Parika/Supenaam, Parika /Bartica and Parika/Wakenamm Stellings on September 26.
A total of 35 cleaning supplies were distributed to Captains for the cleaning of life jackets and the sanitization of their boats.
Over time, passengers have been complaining about dirty life jackets they have to contend with while traversing the waterways.
MARAD's staff also encouraged boat operators to continue to enforce safety, and distributed flyers on boating safety to captains also urging passengers to continue wearing their life jackets correctly at all times.
GEORGETOWN - The Ministry of Public Works takes this opportunity to clarify some misconstrued information, peddled by some to cause anxiety in the public, as it relates to the contract inked between the Ministry and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
They are:
1. Naming a Government Engineer for the project;
2. The construction of Section 1.13 of the FIDIC document in reference to its terms and conditions;
3. And performance security being 10 percent of contract sum.
Firstly, while an Engineer is not named in the contract, those arrangements have been taken care of administratively; and an Engineer has been identified and appointed.
In addition to that, Section 1.13 [Compliance with Laws] sub-clause (b) states: “The Contractor shall give all notices, pay all taxes, duties and fees, and obtain all permits, licenses and approval, as required by the Laws in relation to the design, execution and completion of the Works and the remedying of any defects; and the Contractor shall indemnify and hold the Employer harmless against and from the consequences of any failure to do so.”
Since the Government of Guyana will pay all taxes, duties and fees, and obtain all permits, licenses and approval regarding the (1) design, (2) execution and completion and (3) remedying any defects during the defects liability period there was reason for interchanging names (Contractor and Employer) in the above clause as stated in the signed contract.
This section provides, in the view of the Public Works Ministry, a CORRECT interpretation which clearly illustrates that Government is not responsible for curing any defects.
Additionally, Section 11 of FIDIC explicitly deals with Defects Liability, whereby it is very clear that CHEC and not the Government is responsible for remedying Defects during the Defects and Liability Period.
Furthermore, it is a norm in large contracts for the performance bond to be 10% of the contract sum.
The Ministry is deeply concerned that misinterpretation of the facts misleads the public, and strongly encourages the public to become their own investigative journalists to determine for themselves what is fact from fiction.
TIMEHRI - Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramesh Ghir, is livid over comments made by a Fly Jamaica Airways executive about the perceived lax security at the Airport.
On Saturday during a press conference Director of Finance and Commerce Roxanne Reece stated that she would like to see a more reliable and efficient security system at CJIAC.
However, Ghir responded. Below is his full statement:
“It is very disappointing and unfortunate that a director of Fly Jamaica would choose to publicly address her concerns about drug incidents at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) without first engaging the airport authorities about such anxiety.
As Chairman of the Airport Security Committee and head of the Airport Corporation I can safely say that no such concern was ever raised with us; not even at the level of the Board of Directors.
We will be happy to engage the staff and directors of Fly Jamaica to address any security related questions that they may have. The airport’s Corporation and its Security Committee remain steadfast to continuously working with its stakeholders to improve passengers’ experience.
We remain very excited and look forward to Fly Jamaica getting on board!”
GEORGETOWN - A pre-feasibility study has been completed for the construction of a new Harbour Bridge with three possible locations pinpointed, announced Rolston Adams, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) during a press conference on Friday.
The Government of Guyana sees the need for a new bridge to ease the traffic congestion along the East Bank corridor.
“We have looked at locations, one being the existing location where the bridge is, or at New Hope on the East Bank of Demerara and that is behind Patentia, and the third site is at Versailles in Houston,” Adams told reporters.
At the moment, a Consultant is poring over the documents and it is anticipated that his evaluation will be presented to the Public Works Minister by September month end, Adams disclosed.
“After which it will be sent to Cabinet for approval…we have studied all types of bridges because this is what you do when conducting a feasibility study, but we want to build a fixed high-level bridge,” the DHB General Manager added.
This aside, works are moving apace to change eroded pivots that hold the floating bridge in place, and is expected to be completed shortly.
Revenue collection
Meanwhile, when asked about the revenue being collected from users of the bridge and if it was enough to carry out the various rehabilitations works on the structure, Adams said without government’s subvention, the revenue collected would not do much.
The DHB’s revenue has seen an eight per cent increase in the past four years, and according to Adams, this is still not enough.
Approximately $1 billion is spent every year to maintain the bridge while the revenue collected is around $400 million.
On a different note, Adams said there is not much that could be done to reduce the constant buildup of traffic on the East Bank of Demerara and leading up to the bridge.
“The only thing that could be done is to construct a new bridge to assist in this regard,” he said.
