Georgetown: Members of the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) said that three months have passed since a Working Group submitted to Government a concept paper for the improvement of the Georgetown Harbor through a public/private sector partnership, but the submitters have not received any response to date.
A June 30th deadline for the dredging of the Demerara Channel “urgently” recommended by the Working Group is unlikely to be met since there have been no signs of preparatory activity to date.
Chairman of the SAG Mr. Desmond Sears said that the Association intends to remind Government in writing that its members would like to know what the possibilities are for the implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group.
SAG officials have in recent years pointed out that the Demerara River Channel has always been under threat from heavy silting from outflows from the Amazon River and that this has hampered shipping.
“Limitations on the draught of vessels that can transit the Demerara Channel have had a negative impact on maritime commerce in Guyana to the extent that the volume of cargo being moved per vessel call has been declining significantly,” Chairman Desmond Sears said recently. “This and other related problems had led to the formation of the Working Group last year by the Government comprising 10 persons – five from the Government and five from SAG.”
The Government’s representatives included three Officials from the Maritime Administration (MARAD), one from the Ministry of Trade and one from the Ministry of Finance.
The group completed its proposals ,drafted its concept paper at the end of January 2013 and submitted its proposals to Government through Minister of Public Works and Communications Mr. Robeson Benn.
There has been no response by Government to date. Mr. Sears said that the written reminder from SAG is to be sent to Minister Benn, early next week.
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