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The Good Hope Stelling fiasco

Jun 19, 2010 Letters

The Editor,
The situation with the Good Hope Stelling is indeed sad. I agree with the Prime Minister to bring those that are responsible to answer for this embarrassment on the Government. I hope that with the answer he will not ‘pass the buck’, and will have the courage to fully discipline those that are found to be negligent, even if it includes the Minister of Public Works.
From reports, the contractor, B. K. International, claimed to have built the Stelling in accordance with the design. After successful tests, the contractor received a certificate of completion from the Ministry of Local Government. Surely, Vikab Engineering, the consultants, must have approved this certificate. I assume that these tests included loading and unloading the ferry with a vehicle containing the weight equivalent to 300 bags of fertilizer, or was it a motorcycle? Since there was no drawbridge, I guess that in order to load and unload the ferry several layers of heavy planks were used (Adventure Stelling method). The contractor also claimed that the drawbridge should have been on the ferry and not on the Stelling. What a mess. Only in Guyana!
A recent report by the Minister of Public Works said that when the Stelling was handed over to his Ministry, two problems were identified, a bridge leading to the ferry and flotation. He said, further, that it was ‘decided’ that it would have been highly impractical to attach drawbridges to all vessels docking at the Stelling, and that the ideal situation was to build a drawbridge from the Stelling. Who ‘decided’ that all vessels docking at the Stelling needed a drawbridge? I think that a drawbridge is only needed on one or two ferries, and that Cargo vessels docking there do not really need drawbridges.
Five parties were involved with this project, (1) the design Engineers, (2) B. K. International, (3) Vikab Engineering, (4) the Ministry of Local Government and (5) the Ministry of Public Works. The reports have shown that the Ministry of Public Works spent an extra $18 million to construct a drawbridge and flotation. Adventure Stelling was then closed.
The employees were moved to Good Hope and the new stelling went into operation. The drawbridge collapsed on the first day. The Stelling was then closed and operations reverted to Adventure. Was the drawbridge tested with a heavily loaded truck before it was opened? Did the Engineers from the Ministry of Public Works design the drawbridge and flotation? Was a certificate of completion issued? What a mess. Only in Guyana!
I have seen ferries with drawbridges, which are usually at the bow. These ferries are more like large pontoons with a wide bow and wide stern. I think that this is what is needed for the Adventure/Parika route, especially since it will be used mostly for vehicles. The ferry that plies the Adventure/Parika route is not suitable to carry a drawbridge at the bow or at the stern. With the tide situation, there must be some kind of flotation at the Stelling. I remember the Georgetown Ferry Stelling had some kind of stage flotation mechanism that worked well.
I suggest that before any additional money is spent on this stelling; professional advice be sought from overseas. Canada and the United States have many large and beautiful ferries with drawbridges. These carry vehicles on the lower level and passengers on the upper level. Engineers from the Ministry of Public Works should come and study these ferries.
M. Majeed
Former Hydraulics Overseer

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