The US$40M Berbice River Bridge was yesterday opened to the public and residents lauded efforts to have the facility functioning for their Christmas traverse.However, even as the public was allowed to use the facility for free yesterday, the access road on the eastern end will take at least two more months before it is fully completed.As the facility was launched yesterday, works were still ongoing at the eastern end.Residents turned out in their hundreds to witness the historical launching as one elderly gentleman shouted, ‘Thank God me live to see this’.To the Berbicians gathered at the bridge site, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that yesterday was a ‘joyous’ occasion for all Guyanese.The Head of State said that the bridge is one of many projects that have to be completed in order to achieve the ‘second generation of industry and infrastructure’.He said that despite the recent turmoil in the world’s finance,Cheap Jerseys China, Guyana has managed to keep its macro-fundamentals stable.There is need, he added, for more public/private sector collaboration,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, adding that the administration still has to manage a fiscal deficit.The building of the bridge does not only have financial benefits for Berbice, but serve as a tool for integration of territories,wholesale nfl jerseys, he added.For years, the President said, persons have been made to wait for hours on the ferry service causing lost of man-hours that accounted for some $200M per year.With the implementation of the bridge service, it is hoped that more investments will be diverted to Berbice.He applauded the private sector, which invested in this particular project, for being ‘bold’ since many had criticised the project from the inception.According to the Head of State, the private sector should use opportunities such as the Berbice River Bridge to assist in the development of the country.He was quick to point out that this can only happen through the vision and initiative of the private sector.The ferry service will still be used to transport heavy traffic, he added.At present, while the bridge is open to the public, only one lane of the road on the eastern side is open to traffic.This, the President said, will be fixed in time.He urged that persons be patient with the situation as the bridge will ease the burden off commuters.While the Berbice River Bridge Incorporated built the bridge,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, the government was responsible for the construction of the access roads.With the renditions from the Guyana Police Force, the Head of State along with residents and members of Parliament walked across the entire bridge.Over at the eastern end the President was briefed on the construction works.The Retractor Span of the bridge is 70 metres, the same as the Demerara Harbour Bridge.There will be a scale at both ends of the bridge, and only vehicles weighing a maximum of 40 tonnes can traverse the bridge.The toll structure at the bridge will be almost the same as the ferry service.However, passengers do not have to pay individual fares as all is incorporated in the cost for using the bridge.BBCI will operate the bridge on a toll basis,Jerseys NFL Cheap, using a formula that will secure sufficient revenue to cover all operating and maintenance costs, give a return on the investment, and repay financing.The bridge will be handed over to Government after 21 years.(Tusika Martin)

The education fraternity is in deep shock. Many woke up to the news yesterday morning that veteran educationist, Rajkishore Mangal, MS,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, had died at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Friday evening. He was 70.Raj MangalAccording to Mrs Mangal, her husband was admitted to the hospital on Thursday evening after complaining of shortness of breath. She added that he was “very restless and couldn’t breathe…couldn’t lie down”. She added that she spoke to him and he laughed and talked, even complimented the nurses at the hospital on Friday.“He drank soup,Wholesale Jerseys Authentic, he talked good about the nurses…he did not indicate anything”,Cheap Stitched NFL Jerseys, she said.Later that evening she received a call from one of the nurses telling her that he had died. “I said ‘It can’t be, I left him alright,” she recalled as she broke down in tears.Mr Mangal had given 48 years to the education system in Guyana, having served as Headmaster of the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), from which he retired in 1995. He then started up the first branch of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) at Rose Hall Town,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, Berbice also in 1995. For the first time, trained secondary school teachers were being churned out in the education system here in Berbice.He received the Medal of Service from President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2002 for his outstanding contributions to education.He retired fully from public life a few years ago and relaxed at his Philadelphia Street, New Amsterdam home.He leaves to mourn his wife, a retired Matron of the New Amsterdam Hospital,Air Max Shoes For Sale, his son Roy, daughter-in-law, Hemwattie and grandson, Arun.

Today, being recognised as Duck Curry champions 2013, compounded with previous wins since entering the popular duck curry competition in2008, both at the Regional and International levels, 42-year-old Deoraj Jaikaran, a/k “Dev”, of Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast, is even more confident of securing another win, come November, when another competition is set to be held in Suriname.Jaikaran emerged winner last Sunday in Trinidad in the recently held annual duck curry competition. The venue was the Mario Ground. There were 15 competitors.The duck curry expert walked away with TT$5000, a music system, trophies and hampers.Adopting his cooking skills from his wife, Indrawattie Rampersaud,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Jaikaran said that he was able to successfully master the art of preparing the popular duck curry over the years, simply by observing and later assisting his wife by cooking for his family, especially during the holidays.Starting out with the fore knowledge of only knowing how to steam water, Jaikaran explained that he would carefully gauge his wife while she was cooking and would later experiment using the practical knowledge at home. This saw him entering his first competition,Jerseys NFL China, in2008,China Jerseys Free Shipping, at Hampton Court Ground.Jaikaran said that while he has over the years secured numerous wins, he however came second runner up in 2010 and 2011.But, while being tentative about disclosing the secret to his cooking,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, which continues to earn him the top spot, Jaikaran would only say he takes pride in carefully selecting and preparing his seasonings, spices,Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys, massalas and geeras.Jaikaran, who does all of his shopping for his cooking, said that he would venture into the market and purchase all the necessary seasonings? after which he would prepare his meat by? marinating? and refrigerating prior to the day before the competition.Jaikaran, who also operates a taxi service, is extremely passionate about cooking and lends gratitude to individuals, especially Locknauth Persaud, the owner of Kings Jewellery, for his continued support.

Guyana will be hosting the Twenty-Seventh Meeting of Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to examine matters related to the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), agriculture, transportation, and external economic and trade relations.This meeting will be hosted tomorrow and Friday.The Council, which comprises Trade Ministers, will consider the Caricom Competition Commission’s 2008 Report and its 2009 Work Programme.The Caricom Competition Commission was established in January 2008 in Paramaribo,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Suriname. Haiti will update the meeting on its preparations for the trade in goods regime of the CSME.At the two-day meeting,Cheap NFL Jerseys, the Ministers will discuss the recommendations from the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).The Council met for the first time on January 16, last, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and again on May 8,Cheap Nike Huarache Shoes, last, in Barbados to discuss the draft agreement on the Common Fisheries Policy.The draft is expected to be presented for consideration at the upcoming Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.COTED will receive a report from Jamaica on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Advanced Technology for Agriculture.The Centre was established in Jamaica in March last with assistance from the Government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.In addition, the meeting will receive updates on several matters including the recommendation to establish a Single Air Space, piracy and its threat to maritime transportation. Developments with respect to preparations for negotiating a trade and development agreement between CARICOM and Canada,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between the Caribbean Forum of African,Cheap Jerseys Outlet, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFOUM) and the European Community will also be discussed.