With the commissioning of the US$1M GAICO Wharf Facility & Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge at Nismes, West Bank Demerara yesterday, there is expected to be improved navigation of the rivers.
In his address, President David Granger said the Chief Executive Officer, of GAICO Construction & General Services Inc, Komal Singh has recognized the need for more modern equipment and he applauded the decision of the company to make the rivers more navigable by dredging the areas around the wharf.
He said the dredge is a “welcome addition to our rivers” and he hopes it can be moved to Berbice and the Pomeroon as well.
The president said it would also “allow Guyana to provide a better service to all of our shippers” and he hopes they can utilize it fully.
“Our government aims to give Guyanese a good life but most of all we want a strong economy. An efficient maritime transport system is critical for the realization of that strong economy… We need better river transport to facilitate investment…”
Referring to accidents in the rivers, he said there is need for a strong law-enforcement agency to keep the rivers safe as they are becoming congested.
Granger is happy that Singh and GAICO have attempted to solve some of the problems that affect the riverain areas.
“If you go in the Pomeroon area they wouldn’t tell you about Constitutional Reform, they won’t tell you about the Marriott Hotel…”
They would talk about dredging the mouth of the river, as if that is not done, he said, it can result in flooding.
Granger said that everything that happens along the coastline and in the riverain communities would reach to international organizations.
He said too that the recent declaration by Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro that “they would take control of such a large part of sea space has given the present government such a difficult time. We would not be able to attract investment unless we can assure the investors that Guyana is a safe place.”
He also spoke about farmers not being able to take their produce to the market because the bigger ships would not go to their communities.
“A sound economy would improve the competitiveness of our productive sector by ensuring there is infrastructure to facilitate cheaper transportation,” he told the gathering.
The company handed over a speedboat with engine, which bore the name, ‘David G’ to the government to assist schoolchildren in the hinterland areas.
The president applauded the initiative of Singh for the donating of the boat which would help to ensure that children get to school, instead of them dropping out due to a lack of transportation.
In presenting the overview of the project, Singh told the gathering that GAICO was conceived as a sole trader from 1991 until 2005.
His company started off building roads, bridges, wharfs and doing pile driving. In 2011 it saw an opportunity in the dredging sector and after a careful review of the financial viability he decided to invest in 2012. They first bought a simple dredge along with a tug and barge.
Their most recent acquisition is the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge which cost in excess of US$1M. It has the capabilities to dredge channels and wharves and can operate locally and internationally.
He lauded the government for recognizing the need to dredge the channels of the Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice rivers.
He said the tourism ministry would also be given a boost since larger cruise ships can now enter these waters more frequently.
The company intends to work with the government to implement a programme to do land reclamation and said materials from the dredging can be used to fill areas that experience flooding during the high tides.
The wharf is in the first stage of construction and can accommodate vessels with a draft of five metres at low tide.
Upon completion, the facility would be able to accommodate vessels with a draft up to eight metres and would have a tarmac, the size of 200 ft by 600 ft, for the discharge and storage of containers.
The company also intends to add a crane to the facility and have a dry-docking service as well as a storage bond and to invest in the food processing industry, which would increase employment.
Ramesh Singh, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission and a representative of the Shipping Association, in their remarks, congratulated GAICO for the successful completion of the project.
They said they are impressed with the investment.
