Govt's achievements have not been given due credit |
Govt's achievements have not been given due credit
-Xavier
-Harbour Bridge cited as exampleBy Andrew Richards
Stabroek News
April 9, 1999
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Anthony Xavier has criticised those who seek to highlight the negatives of the current administration and urged that there be unity of the people to carry the nation forward.
Rising to address the National Assembly in support of the 1999 national budget on Wednesday, Xavier stated that the country performs best when the people decide to work together. The minister said that the accomplishments of the government have not been given due credit.
Listing the achievements of his ministry for 1998, Xavier said the Demerara Harbour Bridge now provides an improved service after major rehabilitative work. He stated that in the financial agreement between the Government of Guyana and the European Union, the government appointed an autonomous body to undertake the management of the bridge.
Approval was granted for the toll to be increased and for the revenue to be used for the operations and the maintenance of the bridge from June 1998.
"This is the first step towards financial autonomy, and it has provided enough financing to cover the cost of the operations and maintenance," the minister stated.
A subsidy of $60 million was also provided by the Ministry of Finance, he added. Xavier disclosed that his ministry plans to install an asphaltic covering on the deck of the bridge and to procure a scale to weigh vehicles. This will be financed from the toll revenue, which will also fund the rehabilitation of the pontoons and the dredging of the Demerara River.
The recent repairs to the bridge have improved conditions tremendously, Xavier said, and will be under warranty for the next 12 months.
He told the House that there will be continued rehabilitation of the retractor span this year, which will complete the work identified in the agreement with the European Union.
Moving to the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Xavier said that division renovated several vessels and repairs have started on the New Amsterdam stelling.
Xavier said that in fulfilling its obligation to the shipping community, T&HD conducted a survey of the ships' channels and installed and did maintenance on beacons and buoys.
He said that for this year, the department has proposed repairs to the Mazaruni dockyard wharf, the Leguan stelling, and the Bartica stelling.
It is envisaged that the two gantries in the Berbice area will also be rehabilitated, the minister said. Xavier stated that with the passing of the Shipping Bill in parliament last year, there is now provision for the establishment of a single administration to tend to maritime matters.
He said the previous fragmented approach will be ended as it had some matters falling under the Customs and Excise Department, while others came under the Lands and Survey Department. A meeting was held with the Guyana Shipping Association in January to work out the plan for the establishment of a maritime training institute in keeping with the Shipping Act.
In the area of sea defences, Xavier said that an agreement was reached between the Government of Guyana and the European Union which will provide US$20 million for the rehabilitation of sea defences.
He said that under funding from the Inter-American Development Bank, work has started on the sea defences at Aberdeen, Taymouth Manor and Devonshire Castle, on the Essequibo Coast. The minister revealed that an agreement has been reached with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the reformulation of the loan which will finance the engineering consultants and some 2.2 kilometres of rip rap work in the West Coast Berbice area.
Regarding the establishment of a Shore Zone Management System, Xavier said existing survey data was collected on Leguan, Pomeroon, Wakenaam, west and east Coast Demerara, Mahaica, west and east Coast Berbice and the Corentyne Coast.
In addition, a data base on the sea defence structures was also set up for east and west Coast Demerara, the Essequibo Coast and Leguan.
During 1998, only the sea defence structures at Taymouth Manor and Johanna Cecilia were breached, Xavier said. Two hundred metres of rehabilitative work will be done on the structures at Henrietta and Anna Regina, he stated.
Giving an overview of the work of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) done last year, the minister said maintenance was carried out at various airstrips in the interior where some fencing and relaying were done.
At the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri some aspects of phase two of the extension of the outgoing passenger area were completed. There is now a new departure lounge, a new immigration hall, and the provision of seating accommodation for 460 passengers.
For the year, the department will be overlaying part of the main runway at the airport and a cambio facility will be installed. The advertising project will also be launched and flight information will be made more easily accessible, the minister said.
Xavier added that the department is working towards the removal of squatters from areas adjacent to the airport and is seeking full cooperation on this issue.
