Ribbon cut on high capacity bridge
Stabroek News
December 4, 2002
United States Ambassador to Guyana, Ronald Godard yesterday cut the ribbon on a US-funded high capacity concrete bridge which will allow easy access of heavy-duty containerised trucks into the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) compound Thomas Lands.
The Ambassador in his address said that the project is just one part of the US government's integrated and co-ordinated approach to capacity enhancement in the area of disaster response in Guyana.
The construction of the bridge, which will now enable the CDC to receive 40-foot containerised trucks, was funded by the US Southern Command Humanitarian Assistance Programme at a cost of US$25,000.
The US Southern Com-mand also provided technical expertise and the project was co-ordinated through the US Embassy's military Liaison Office. Jaime Rios of the US Liaison Office was the architect of the bridge while LNBG Builders Associates was awarded the contract for its construction.
Godard said in the event of an emergency the bridge would allow foodstuff usually stored on the CDC compound to be loaded directly onto large capacity trucks for rapid distribution in a crisis.
In brief remarks Lieutenant Colonel of the Guyana Defence Force, Mark Phillips said with the CDC's recent embrace of a Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy (CDMS) tailored to meet the realities of Guyana, more emphasis will now be placed on the enhancement and integration of their preparedness, prevention, mitigation and response capabilities to natural or man-made disasters. He said the CDC has recognised that there is need for a shift in policy emphasis from the traditional response and relief operations to a more proactive approach. Phillips said the bridge was timely since it would facilitate easy access to the emergency warehouse that is geared to come on stream next year.
