As pressure builds for action, Crown Mining Supplies has consulted with a professional salvager to retrieve their sunken dredge at Piremap Falls, Mazaruni River, while MARAD says that a date cannot be set as to when the river will be cleared.
The dredge sank three months ago but only became a hindrance to river traffic several weeks ago after it shifted into the channel when the company tried to salvage it. Several attempts to remove it have proved futile.
It was announced two weeks ago that MARAD and Crown Mining Supplies would be intensifying efforts to remove the dredge. The company had met with MARAD to discuss possible solutions. MARAD had stated that over the past few months the company has been trying assiduously to reclaim the dredge from its current position. However, because of the high tide and the location of the dredge, it is difficult to access and the salvage operation will require special equipment.
Harbour Master Michael Tenant confirmed with Stabroek News yesterday that the company is currently “engaging the attention of a certified salvager” and has been at the site assessing the situation. “They have looked at the area and have also discussed a way forward,” Tenant explained.
He said the next step is for the river to be at a safe level for the salvager to take his equipment into the area to move the dredge. “What they are going to do, is probably try to get it back afloat so that they can safely manoeuvre it out of the area,” the Harbour Master explained.
He pointed out to Stabroek News yesterday that since persons are unable to get goods into the area, there have been price increases which has been drastically affecting the people. “It’s a mass of confusion there,” he said.
However, he was unable to say how long the process would take and how soon miners and boat operators will be able to travel through the channel freely again. “There is no time frame. We are addressing it. In salvaging it’s either you get through or you don’t get through. He could go in and get it out within a day, week or month or he could struggle to get it out until the end of the year,” he said, stating that he is completely confident that once the salvager is allowed to work properly then the obstacle will be removed as soon as possible.
Ralph Persaud, who has been working in the area for more than 30 years, explained that the easier way MARAD and the company could’ve dealt with the situation, was if they had resorted to blowing up the sunken Draga and removing it in smaller pieces. However, Tennant said, “I don’t think we will reach the state where we will have to blow it up. We are confident that it will be refloated as everybody is making the effort.”
While MARAD had stated that there were alternative routes that boat operators could take to avoid the sunken dredge, miners and operators have stated otherwise. In a letter in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News, Persaud said, “I read with great humour the report quoting the Maritime Administration as saying that there are alternate routes for boats traversing the Piremap Falls.” He added that the only other route he is aware of, is if a person unloads all of their cargo and “lug it from below the falls to the top, and then haul your boat manually over the iron rails.”
“Otherwise you wait for the rains and high water. I would love to see the experts at MARAD take a boat and do a trip, do a video and let the Guyanese public see these alternate routes. He added that while MARAD has lauded the mining company for working “assiduously” to remove the obstacle, it is misplaced since nothing has been done to improve the situation within the entire month of September. “This situation cannot continue much longer as a lot of miners, boaters, fuel suppliers, farmers, fishermen and school children are greatly affected,” he stated.
However, Tennant said he is of the opinion that persons are exaggerating the situation, and boats travel past the dredge daily. “I think people are blowing this thing out of proportion. Yes, the jet boats may not be able to pass when the water is low but there is adequate space when there is enough water. Boats are passing every day,” he said, while pointing out that persons are not willing to lessen the load in their boats, making it difficult to travel.
A miner, Joylyn Lynch, had shared the same sentiments as Persaud. She had explained that the only alternative route was using a road to Bartica, which was not an option since it was in an extremely deplorable condition.
Persaud said that the miners, boat operators, villagers and all other workers are pleading with MARAD and the company to ensure that they have the encumbrance removed as soon as possible, in order to prevent the people from suffering any longer.
