– Indian team conducting feasibility study
Guyana over the years has been capitalising on its natural resources to maximise its growth and development. As such the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Government of India has undertaken a feasibility study to determine a possible location for the construction of a deep water harbour in Guyana.
The Head of the Maritime Administration Department, Claudette Rogers, Director of Ports and Harbours of the Maritime Administration Department, Taig Kalicharran, officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications and a team from India comprising Advisor of Transport Research to the Government of India, Alvin Kumar, and other technical officers held a cordial meeting Friday, at the Princess International Hotel, East Bank Demerara.
Kalicharran noted that such an initiative is not new to Government, but owing to growth of the economy and external activities it sees it necessary to construct the harbour.
He stated that the one-week study which was conducted by the Indian Government has concluded that the Berbice area is most suitable for the construction of such infrastructure since the water in that area has the necessary depth and the area is not congested.
It was indicated that the Ministry is willing to provide additional information if requested by the Government of India via their High Commission so that this study will be successfully completed.
Kalicharran noted that the prospect of Guyana gaining from Brazil which is a landlocked country with a rapidly growing economy, utilising the harbour, exists and as such Government has been preparing infrastructure to facilitate this venture. He pointed to the fact that the Takutu Bridge has become a reality and Government has been constructing roads from Lethem to Linden and Linden to Rosignol.
Kumar noted that meetings were conducted with the Maritime Administration Department, private terminal operators and shipping agencies and have assisted the team in gathering necessary information for the study.
In addition, to collect more information aerial and site visits were conducted. These activities have been proven successful since they were able to compile pertinent data for further analysis.
Kumar being knowledgeable about Guyana’s vast natural resources noted that the deep water harbour will be useful in exporting key commodities including bauxite, timber and agricultural products since it will provide better connectivity to foreign markets.
Expressing similar sentiments to that of Kalicharran he noted that the proximity of Brazil to Guyana puts Guyana in a good position to gain from Brazil through the use of the harbour.