PRESIDENT David Granger has underscored the need for massive investments in dredging the main rivers and channels in Guyana to facilitate ocean-going vessels, and applauded Chief Executive Officer of GAICO Construction & General Services Inc. Komal Singh for the ground-breaking investment of a US$1M dredge. President Granger was at the time delivering the feature address at the commissioning of the US$1M GAICO Wharf Facility & Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge at Nismes, West Bank Demerara, on Monday.

The President noted that the company had recognised the need to upgrade its equipment and over the last 24 years it has taken a relentless approach to standards, expansion and quality work.
The gathering, which included the businessman’s relatives, members of the shipping association and those involved in ferrying goods through the Demerara channel, was told by the President that such an investment was a welcomed one and expressed the hope that the Berbice and Pomeroon Rivers will also benefit from such investments.
BETTER SERVICE TO ALL SHIPPERS
According to the President, the situation around the wharves affects the mooring and navigation of vessels. He then acknowledged that GAICO’s new dredge will allow the company and Guyana to provide a better service to all our shippers.
“I am pleased that most will be pleased with the investment and utilise the services of this equipment to improve access to their facilities. Our Government aims to give Guyanese a good life, but most of all we want a strong economy,” President Granger posited.
He said further that an efficient maritime transport service is critical to the realisation of a strong economy and this requires that Guyana catalyse productive services and sectors to relink the hinterland with the coastland.
He went on to state that the hinterland is the main repository of Guyana’s natural resources and within the hinterland there are many riverine communities that are involved in logging and mining. Those areas, he added, hold great potential for agriculture and agro-processing.
The President also acknowledged that Guyana needs better riverine transport to facilitate investments in the hinterland communities. He noted that vessels such as the one commissioned by GAICO would be able to improve the quality of navigation in those communities.

The President also referred to the situation whereby farmers are unable to take their produce to the market because the bigger ships are not willing to go to their communities.
“They cannot get their produce to the market because bigger ships don’t come in and many dealers do not go into farming communities to collect the produce and in places like the Berbice River, people are dumping produce because no one comes to pick them up and they cannot afford to get it out of those areas and no one can afford to get in and it’s a big problem,” the Head of State observed.
According to President Granger, it is expected that the dredge will help to make the channel clearer, so that bigger ships can get in and bring the produce out to markets.
The President said that the constraint to the size of ships which can enter the Demerara channel prevents this country from becoming the gateway to many opportunities for the Region and South America. “Our channels are just not deep enough and the limitations are many,” he added.
Meanwhile, speaking outside of his presentation, the GAICO CEO said that the company also had to prepare the wharf while conducting works to approximately 160 feet of revetment in front of the wharf as well as engaging in land reclamation of approximately three acres and the construction of a walkway of almost 100 feet.
Also at the event, the President was presented with a boat, which will be used to ferry schoolchildren from riverine communities to school. Having received a similar gift at his 70th birthday celebration, President Granger had declared, “Hold the frankincense and myrrh and give me boats instead.” The Chief Executive Officer of GAICO Construction, in responding to that call, presented the President with the boat, bearing the name, “David G.” The boat will be handed over to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, after which it will be formally presented to a selected community.

President Granger thanked the company for the gesture as he noted that ensuring children have access to education is one sure way of reducing poverty. “Education remains the best means for the poor to graduate out of poverty. If we provide them with education, it is a means through which they can be qualified,” President Granger said. (Leroy Smith)