Gov’t eyes end of July for replacement of ‘span nine’

BY THE end of July, the government is considering the replacement of Span Nine’ of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) which will cost an estimated

$1.2 billion.

On Wednesday, DHB’s General Manager, Wayne Watson told the Department of Public Information (DPI), that the recommended re - placement time for Span Nine based on the tide is between July 24 and 29. Watson noted that the final approval from the ministerial level is still pending.

Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase announces service recruitment drive for local businesses

THE Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI) will have a service recruitment drive this Saturday at the Lenora Secondary School at 13:00 hours, according to the Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), Halim Khan.

VEHSI, he said is seeking locally registered entities that can offer services such as meals catering, CCTV setup and operations, water taxi and shuttle, bulk tank fuel services, legal, office supplies, industrial pumps, pest control, rigging and lifting, heavy-duty equipment transportation, engineering, grass cutting and landscaping, among a long list of other needed services.

Khan said interested companies or individuals are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) along with contact person’s information, organisation structure, physical business address, past work experience of similar nature and references, vat registration (where applicable), certificate of incorporation (or equivalent) and tax identification number certificate.

“Potential vendors who wish to participate are required to submit all documentation to the email address pm@nrguyana.com while the email title needs to contain the reference name and the number of services that can be offered. The due date for EOI Submission is May 29, 2023,” Khan noted.

VEHSI is a joint venture between NRG Holdings Inc. a Guyanese consortium of majority locally-owned businesses — Hadi’s World Incorporated, National Hardware Guyana Limited, ZRN Investments Incorporated, and Jan De Nul Group for the development of Vreed-enHoop Shore base Inc.

Port Vreed-en-Hoop, Khan said will be Guyana's first modem, deep water, multi-purpose port in Foreshore Plantation, West Bank Demerara. The port is expected to have a significant positive economic impact on the lives of community residents and Guyana.

However, preparations are well underway, with all other necessary components in place and the loading process already in progress.

Further, Watson is urging commuters and residents to support this endeavour, while awaiting official approval.

“We are going to be asking the commuters to support this venture for us to take out the old span, so the bridge could be a little more operational in terms of retraction, and also the width of the channel will be restored to its original dimension,” he said.

The successful execution of this project requires co-operation and understanding from citizens as it may cause temporary disruptions in regular commuting patterns.

Meanwhile, the replacement of Span Nine will improve the bridge’s retractability, thereby ensuring smoother navigation for vessels passing through.

The logistics for the replacement project is also being meticulously planned to ensure a smooth transition, as the groundwork is being laid for the forthcoming construction phase as trucks unload the necessary materials onto the storage area.

The government recognises the significance of efficient execution and is committed to minimising any disruptions caused during this critical stage.