…to work mainly on desilting Demerara River
GAICO Construction Inc has acquired a dredge worth  US$450,000 from Innovative Materials System, IMS in the United States. The company acquired the dredge to work mainly in the Demerara River, desilting areas around wharves, jetties, outfalls and channels. According GAICO’s Managing Director, Komal Singh, Sol, Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) and the Guyana National Shipping Corporation have already expressed an interest in securing the service of the state-of-the art piece of equipment.
With the acquisition of the dredge, the company will now be able to dredge as deep as six to seven meters during low tide, something the company had difficulty doing in the past, according to Singh. He explained at present GAICO uses draglines and excavators to conduct dredging.
Meanwhile, an executive of the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) commented that ocean going vessels carrying fuel along the channels have been having difficulties. According to the official, this is largely because of siltation in the Demerara River. GAICO, in the diversification of its operations, will be installing an asphalt plant on the West Bank of Demerara.
According to Singh, this will reduce the cost contractors pay for transportation.
Meanwhile, Global Sales Representative of Innovative Materials System, Ryan Horton, said that at present there is a demand for the equipment, with several being sold around the world. According to him, this is the company’s first sale to Guyana. Horton is hoping that that Government of Guyana will also express an interest in the equipment. GAICO is known mostly for civil works and construction. Among the projects they are involved in here are the access road to Parfaite Harmony, and the lot two phase of the East Bank of Demerara four-lane extension, between Prospect and the Demerara Distillers Limited entrance (DDL).
The company is working on that phase of the road along with General Earth Mover of Trinidad and Tobago.