Head of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Ivor English, says US authorities have already indicated their intention not to allow ships to call at their ports unless facilities at which they had berthed on the previous ten occasions have put in place security measures.

As such the Maritime Administration is now helping local wharf operators to meet the July 1 deadline or face the risk of not being allowed to continue shipping to the US.

The measures are part of the US Department of Homeland Security's strategy against terrorist attacks.

Local facilities, which are for the greater part privately owned, have been instructed to prepare a security assessment which some have already begun complying with, says English.

At least two of these entities say they have started their assessments.

"Each facility has been called upon to begin work on their security assessment, which they are required to complete by the middle of February."

On completion of the assessments MARAD will examine them prior to giving the go ahead for the facilities to begin developing their plans, says English.

This would be to ensure they are in compliance with the designated specifications as outlined in the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code.

According to English, efforts are currently being pursued to have the necessary legislative provisions in place with the collaboration of the Attorney General's Chambers.

Meanwhile the department has been meeting regularly with members of the shippers' association.

The sides met on Wednesday and again on Thursday with Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Anthony Xavier where the discussion focused on efforts to ensure compliance with the new regulations and how these would be reached.

English acknowledges that the costs for implementing the security measures are astronomical, running somewhere in the vicinity of hundreds of millions of dollars.

He says while the local shipping industry had to follow the requirements, they were poised to use a phased approach.

He says the code specifies three levels of security. Guyana is aiming to reach level 1, or the basic level at the initial stage.

In this basic level there would be need for such security features as fencing, adequate lighting and security cameras to monitor the movement of persons.

Additionally, facilities would be required to institute strict guidelines for allowing persons access to certain designated areas as well as putting in place the necessary monitoring capacity.

Much of this would be carried out by what the code describes as a Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO), responsible for conducting an initial comprehensive security survey of the facility and ensuring that a port security plan is developed and maintained. The PFSO is also designated to assist ship security officers in confirming the identity of those seeking to board ships as well as co- ordinating the port facility security plan with him.

According to English, once the security measures are in place MARAD will then inform the International Maritime Organisation of those facilities in compliance with the code.

The IMO in turn will then have this information publicised.

English sees the likelihood of there being unannounced spot audits of these facilities by security experts to ensure that they are indeed complying as documented.

His department also hopes to extend the security network to other ports of the country apart from Georgetown depending on resources.

English acknowledged that the x-ray equipment is critical as it would allow for containers to be examined.

However, due to the cost attached to obtaining this piece of equipment it is unlikely that it will be acquired in the first instance, some operators had told this newspaper.

English says ways would have to be worked out to see how best it could be obtained.

He warns "any neglecting to act on the part of the port facility owners would see them not being allowed to have ships berth at the wharf."

Because most of the berths in port Georgetown are privately owned the role of the private sector is even more critical, whereas government's role is founded in the fact that the issue concerned one of national security, English says.

Questioned on the difference in the port facilities between Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, English says while those locally were mostly privately owned at most of the regional ports government owned the land.

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India interested in bagasse co-generation

India is willing to be a partner in any economic activity with Guyana and especially would like to be part of the development of the country's sugar industry, said Indian President Dr Abdul Kalam at a banquet in honour of President Bharrat Jagdeo in New Delhi. Jagdeo is there to take part in the Second Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi, a conference devoted to the Indian Diaspora and he was among recipients of the `Outstanding Non-Resident Indian award' at the conference yesterday.