05 Aug MARAD’s head: Passengers have rights! KINGSTON, Georgetown – Persons, who frequently use the power boat service as a mode of transportation, have the right to request the licenses of boat operators before boarding the vessels. This is the view of Maritime Administration Department’s (MARAD) head, Claudette Rogers. “Your life should be important to you as it is to us. We think it is absolutely necessary and we think it would only take one second of your time to ask that question, which will determine whether... Read more
05 Aug Hon. Benn mulls over bringing back public buses KINGSTON, Georgetown – Several big buses are being contemplated in a pilot programme to determine how feasible it would be in easing the woes of Guyanese who depend on public transportation. Hon. Robeson Benn, Minister of Public Works, made this announcement during a visit to Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) with his colleague Hon. Ganga Persaud, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. “We are bringing in some big buses to test the system…I have... Read more
05 Aug Regions 4&5 road/sea defence projects evaluated KINGSTON, Georgetown - Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn last Thursday began another round of visits to major civil engineering projects, now that the weather has improved somewhat to make sure that contractors are keeping good pace and that the work is of good quality. He acknowledged that there have been criticisms about the pace of work which has been affected by the extended period of rainfall with the rainy season going into July. There were also challenges with the sup... Read more
31 Jul Slow pace of ECD road works a concern for Chief Works Officer KINGSTON, Georgetown – The Ministry’s Chief Works Officer is pleading with contractors working along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) Upgrade Road Project to pick up the pace. The $1B Works Ministry project commenced in March 2013, and runs for a year. However, Chief Works Officer, Jeffery Vaughn, explained that from observations the rate in which the project is progressing “is too slow”. “They need to work with some expediency. There are too many traffic cong... Read more
31 Jul Customs/CAL officials implicated in CJIA cocaine bust Two Customs officers and a supervisor of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) are among several individuals fingered in the recent 11 kilogrammes cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Corporation (CJIAC). Additionally, a security officer attached to Secure Innovation and Concept (SIC) and a ground staff of Timehri Handling Services are also under investigation. The companies are contracted by the airline. Last Saturday [July 26] around midday, members of the Customs and An... Read more
26 Jul Gov’t seeks to boost maritime safety KINGSTON, Georgetown – Several initiatives have been put in place to improve safety throughout the nation’s waterways, Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn told members of National Assembly yesterday. Minister Benn outlined several of the measures being taken by the local maritime administration as he responded to a motion put before the House to have a Commission of Inquiry (COI). The COI, when es... Read more
25 Jul Transparency of AFHP is moot – Hon. Benn KINGSTON, Georgetown – The question of transparency for the mammoth Amaila Fall Hydro Power (AFHP) project should be “a moot one” since key stakeholders had possession of the project’s documents for more than a year now. This sentiment was expressed by Minister of Public Works, Hon. Robeson Benn, on Tuesday during a tour with reporters. The US$840M AFHP has been in the headlines on a daily basis after the combined opposition voted down a Bill and a Motion at the last Na... Read more
25 Jul Benn: Ogle Airport security continues to be strengthened KINGSTON, Georgetown – Stakeholders of Ogle International Airport were assured by the Works Minister that safety precautions are in place at the facility. “All basic steps are being taken to make it [Ogle] safe and secure,” Hon. Robeson Benn, who also has responsibility for transport, said on Monday following LIAT’s inaugural flight to the airport located on the East Coast Demerara (ECD). He added... Read more
25 Jul Hon Benn: LIAT laying the foundation for Guyana’s aviation development KINGSTON, Georgetown – “…not only are we resolving the problem with respect to Ogle and the Caribbean region, but we are also laying basis and foundation for reaching further afield into South America with these types of aircraft,” declared the country’s Public Works Minister, Hon. Robeson Benn, at the inaugural landing of a LIAT flight at Ogle Airstrip on Monday. Flight LI512 glided on the runway at 12:30. The 50-seater Dash 8 aircraft was filled to capacity. The airli... Read more
24 Jul 67 percent of Amaila Falls Access Road completed! KINGSTON, Georgetown – The 165 kilometer access road to Amaila Falls is 67 percent completed, Minister of Works Hon. Robeson Benn announced to journalists during a site visit on July 23. The road snakes through Regions 10, 7 and 8. So far, Government has injected US$12M on the laterite surfaced road. The US$840M Amaila Fall Hydro Power project is one of the country’s transformational projects ... Read more
