Demerara River to be cleared of wreckage to facilitate 2-way traffic – Min Edghill

− acquisition of pilot boat on table

As Guyana’s economic transformation kicks off, there is an increased marine traffic within its waterways and to its shore and as such, the Public Works Ministry will soon be clearing several wreckages from the Demerara River to allow for vessels to flow two-way freely.
This was announced by Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, during a contract signing for additional works to be conducted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) last week.

He disclosed that there are several wrecks in the country’s main port channel and as part of his Ministry’s 2021 Work Program, these would need to be removed.
“We used to have less than a dozen ships making call at Port Georgetown but now it’s up to 49, over 50 on a weekly basis. So, [there is] need for not just a two-way traffic but a channel that could see ships crossing at the same time. [And] we have a number of wreaks,” the minister posited.
According to Edghill, the “major” contract for the removal of the wreckages will be signed within the coming days. That contract will focus mainly on clearing the Demerara River.
Back in 2018, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) had cited the country’s main port – the Demerara River – as a major concern with three critical wreckages there.
Among the wreckages in the Demerara River is a barge, DAR.B, which had sunk back in October 2014 while being towed from the Teperu Quarry in the Essequibo to Kingston, Georgetown.
However, Minister Edghill told the Guyana Times there are several wreaks along the river that hinders the easy flow of two-way marine traffic in the channel.
Meanwhile, in addition to this project, the Public Works Minister stated that they are also looking at the acquisition of a pilot boat, which will be used to take the river pilots out to guide ships in to and from the wharves, as well as through tricky channels and through the Demerara Harbour Bridge opening.
“We want to add an additional pilot boat. The decision is pending,” he stated.
With this acquisition, Minister Edghill said it would complete 100 per cent of his Ministry’s planned programme in terms of advertising and engaging.
During that event, Permanent Secretary of the Public Works Ministry, Vladim Persaud, had disclosed that they are on track with the 2021 work program, having already awarded most of the contracts for planned projects this year. He added that majority of the supplementary projects such as rehabilitation works from the recent floods were also awarded.
“At this juncture, all of our program work for 2021 has been awarded and the supplementary [projects] that were granted via parliament, almost 80 per cent have been awarded and only a few are at the stage of evaluation. Within the next week, we should be awarding those remaining contracts,” Persaud said.
On this note, PS Persaud had cautioned contractors that the Public Works Ministry will not be lenient when it comes to the deadlines of projects.

“We are very stringent with regards to timelines and it is no secret that our implementation is one that we take very seriously. We will be behind all of the respective contractors to ensure that their project implementation timelines are met and kept within agreed contract-signing,” he stressed.
This sentiment was reiterated by Minister Edghill, who warned against making excuses for delays.
“…to all our agencies and contractors, including those engaged with our Works Services Group, let’s wake up and think every day – implementation… I frown very seriously on contracts once signed, contractors coming back with excuses that they have to get variants and different sums and so on. Anybody who would’ve engaged me since I’ve been minister know that’s not something I take very lightly,” the minister cautioned.
The Public Works Ministry received a whopping $40 billion from the $383.1 billion 2021 National Budget. In addition to this, the Ministry also received $2.6 billion in supplementary funds in June for repair works on the Demerara Harbour Bridge’s retractor span as well as to facilitate the upgrading of roads and drains in various communities, and urgent rehabilitation and upgrading of key access roads across the country.