By Leonard Gildarie and Keeran SinghChaos ensued shortly before the rush hour yesterday morning, when a section of the Demerara Harbour Bridge collapsed, after two temporary pontoons located at the western end of the bridge sank, leaving thousands of commuters and vehicles stranded on both sides of the river. The pontoons were facilitating maintenance and rehabilitative works.The 34-year-old structure (commissioned July 2, 1978) is the main link between Regions Three and Four, or more directly the capital city Georgetown and West Demerara, as well as the nation’s largest county,Cheap NHL Jerseys China, Essequibo.While no one was reportedly injured in the frightening mishap, minibus driver Clyde Clarke barely managed to prevent his vehicle from disappearing into the murky waters that enveloped the section linking the two affected spans. The other 14 passengers on the bus had already frantically jumped from the vehicle.The partially submerged portion of the bridgeThis occurred around 06:45 hrs when the structure collapsed driving fear into the occupants of the lone minibus that was stranded on the sinking section. No one was injured but the bridge was immediately closed.Minibus driver Clyde Clarke told Kaieteur News that he had just driven onto the bridge at the western end when misfortune struck.“I heard a loud cracking sound and I realized that the bridge was collapsing, and my bus start rolling back,” a still shaken Clarke said.?”I was so confused, I open the door and run out of the bus and leave the passengers.? I know it was wrong, so I ran back to get them.”“The passengers were hollering as the bridge start to sink slowly. All 14 of them come out of the bus and we start running and leave the bus. But I couldn’t see me bus sink, even though it was already partly submerged in water, so I went back and drive the bus from the valley that was created.”“It was really scary; it was an experience that I wouldn’t want to have again.”Clarke opined that the consequences would have been tragic had the damage occurred farther out on the bridge.He questioned how such a mishap could have occurred, when daily, maintenance crews can be seen working on the structure. Other minibus operators related that for about two days the weakness in that section of the bridge was being felt, but none of them reported this to management.Dismissing doubts that the lack of maintenance caused the structure to collapse, General Manager of Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Rawlston Adams, stated that the mishap occurred between spans 60 and 61, situated near the western end, where maintenance and rehabilitative works are being executed.He explained that the two temporary pontoons placed in that section to facilitate the change of the ‘A’ frames, which were severely corroded and damaged, sunk and caused the spans to submerge.The operation to change the ‘A’ frames commenced Sunday at 05:30 hrs. No structural defects on the pontoons were identified when they were installed. But Adams revealed that “the temporary pontoons are older pontoons that the bridge has been using for quite awhile”.“We suspect that the jaws on one of the uni-floats that is assembled for the temporary pontoons broke and that caused it to take in water. At present we have just installed the first salvaged pontoon and we are pumping it now and we are hoping once the tide is changed, we will then proceed to pump the water from the submerged pontoon thereby bringing the span up,” he said.As a precautionary measure,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, bridge management was forced to shut-off power to the western retractor span power cable. Passage of ocean-going vessels was not disrupted since the bridge retracted at 05:30 hrs yesterday morning.“There will be no more retractions until tomorrow (today) so we are hoping that by that time we would have gotten the span out,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, we can then make an assessment on the power and decide when we will turn it back on,” Adams added.He noted that the restoration cost is unknown since a full evaluation has not been carried out as yet. The closure of the bridge will obviously result in the loss of much needed revenue, in various sectors.Police were deployed and struggled to control the traffic around Vreed-en-Hoop,Cheap Jerseys USA, West Bank Demerara, where desperate workers converged on the speed boat facilities there for transportation to Georgetown.Lines of vehicles stretched along both sides of the thoroughfare leading to Vreed-en-Hoop.One resident from a nearby village briefly related that he was walking towards the bridge, when he was alerted to the seemingly dangerous angle of the first span at the western end.There was immediate alarm as the realization dawned that the pontoon anchoring the

As part of its 41st anniversary,Jerseys NFL Cheap, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has embarked on a number of projects aimed at giving back to the various communities that have helped keep the entity afloat.The NIS Melanie Damishana Local Office is one such branch that has already made good on the programme. 100-year old Clifton David of Golden Grove,Cheap China Jerseys, East Coast Demerara was the beneficiary of the anniversary gesture.“We have selected our oldest pensioner,Wholesale Jerseys Online, Mr Clifton David,NFL Jerseys Cheap, to honour him,Cheap Jerseys,” an official of the Melanie Damishana office told Kaieteur News.David was presented with a bumper hamper during a simple ceremony at his home on Thursday.The centenarian marveled those present with his wit and unending chatter.This newspaper understands that NIS branches throughout the country have identified other individuals and groups who will benefit from the initiative.

More than 140 Internal Auditors, drawn from almost 40 organizations across the country attended a key fraud detection workshop, but the absence of police officials and a small showing of government officials has drawn the ire of organizers.Yesterday, President of the Institute of Internal Auditors (Guyana Chapter), John Seeram, was “disappointed”, noting the reports of fraud within the police and government agencies should have made it imperative that there be more interest in the event.It was the largest gathering of auditors since the IIA started a series of workshops last year.Just minutes before,NFL Jerseys China Online, Ramesh Dookhoo, Governor of the IIA Guyana Chapter, told the auditors that it is his view that 95% of all detected frauds in Guyana goes unpunished because of the slow pace of the justice system and the lack of any forensic accounting services in the country.“The most important aspect of the non-prosecution of fraud is the loss of face by institutions and companies, the unpreparedness of institutions to deal and disclose fraud,Jerseys Wholesale, and the lack of recognition of the responsibility on the part of the audit committee,” Dookhoo said in the feature presentation at the Tower Hotel. Guyana, as a developing nation, needs to further develop its culture of accountability and integrity both in the personal lives and in institutions.Dookhoo, who is also the President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), and an executive at Banks DIH Limited, said that for institutions to prevent frauds,Wholesale Authentic NFL Jerseys, they would have to possibly include hotline numbers, segregation of duties, competitive bidding, an Appropriation Committee and a formal list of approved vendors.He stressed that for Guyana to create a better environment for the prevention and detection of fraud, there should be openness in acceptance that there is a problem in developing an anti-fraud policy in the company and in criminal prosecution and subsequent strengthening of systems designed to create more accountable organizations from the bottom up.The officials called for installation of an Internal Audit Department within all public offices and an immediate recognition of the independent authority it would wield.“My view is that there needs to be a lot more education in the field of fraud auditing,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, we need to develop a cadre of fearless auditors who are not desk bound, but prepared to go after the perpetrators of criminal activity in institutions and companies.”This, Dookhoo said, needs to be backed up by a police force that is trained in the gathering of forensic evidence.Prosecutors need also to be trained in the area of fraud detection and prosecution.Additionally, institutions need to be more open about fraud within their systems with some rewards for whistle-blowers, perhaps even legislation to offer protection.“It is noted that whistle-blowers do not survive in their jobs generally in jurisdictions that have whistle blower legislation- the most admired of which is England.Employees generally do not survive the humiliation caused by whistle blowing and there are many cases of ruined lives and lost opportunities… imagine what would happen to a whistle blower in Guyana.”Dookhoo also spoke of the CLICO fiasco and noted that there is much to be done in terms of harmonizing Caribbean regulators and it should be fast tracked to define the region as an economic entity.“Clearly no one blew the whistle on this pan Caribbean entity. Caribbean regulators must demand their independence and must be guided by the institution’s mission and responsibilities to their individual and collective jurisdictions.”Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, Seeram, who is also the Bursar of the University, said that IIA Guyana has been making significant contributions to educating auditors in both the private and public sectors of Guyana.With yesterday’s workshop given the theme “Fraud Indicators-Prevention, Detection and Investigation”,Cheap Jerseys, the IIA official disclosed that the institute is aware of the increasing number of frauds detected in the country over the past year. “In doing so, it is imperative that this Chapter has to take the leading role to mount this Seminar/Workshop today for staff employed in both the public and private sector.”Not only is the workshop designed to have internal auditors increased their understanding of fraud and corruption, but would further hone their skills in detecting the types of fraud and red flag recommending control mechanisms and anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies and procedures.Also making presentations to the group yesterday were renowned Canadian-based accountant,

The 21 Artillery Company, with 702 points, emerged as the top male team when the Guyana Defence Force staged its Third Quarterly run and shoot fitness competition at the ranges of Base Camp Stephenson yesterday. The 31 Special Force Squadron, with 684 points gained second place, while Pirai Company earned third place with 656 points.Fittest of the fit of the Guyana Defence Force, GDF lot: 21 Artillery Company on the road to victory.On Wednesday, the first day of the competition, the 15 male teams and two female teams competed in target shooting,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, rope climbing, swimming,Cheap NFL Jerseys Stitched, a navigation exercise, a medical test, and a memory test. Yesterday the final day of the competition, the teams, decked out in battle kit, undertook a five-kilometer run, the completion of the obstacle course,Bradley Chubb Jersey, falling plate shoots, and grenade throwing, to wrap up the competition.21 Artillery Company won the Falling Plate Shoots with 104 points,China Jerseys, while 31SF Sqn won the Target Shoots with a total of 61 hits. 31SF also had the best times in the Rope Climb (09.26 minutes), run (24.13 minutes), and the swim (01.25 minutes) while Pirai Company completed the obstacle course with the best time of 03.31 minutes.Although Base Camp Ayanganna females had the best times at the run (36.34 minutes) and the obstacle course (6.15 minutes), top honours once again went to Base Camp Stephenson’s females who racked up 495 points, as against Base Camp Ayanganna’s total of 381 points.A Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force male team, led by Second Lieutenant Kori Joseph, participated in the competition for the first time and its members committed themselves well to beat six or 15 teams.Second Lieutenant Joseph said that it was an honour for his team to have been invited to participate in the competition and thanked the GDF for the opportunity. He noted that the competition was tough and despite unfamiliarity with the terrain and location,Cheap Jerseys From China, it was worth the while to have participated.He and his teammates were excited and they tackled all aspects of the competition with gusto. “This competition is a true demonstration of how espirit de corps is built in the military. It truly challenges the mental and physical fitness of the soldiers while ensuring that command and leadership skills are put to the test. We are happy to be here,Cheap Jerseys Online,” he said.He praised the Officers and Ranks of the GDF for their hospitality and looks forward to returning in the future for another try at winning the competition.The Guyana Police Force also fielded a male team which participated for the second time and earned fifth place among the 15 participating teams.Commodore Gary Best congratulated the winners but remarked that there was room for improvement. He reminded the soldiers that fitness was not an option but rather a necessity for the assessment of the military man or woman.He encouraged the soldiers to embrace fitness as part of their everyday regimen and charged the Commanders to ensure that the fitness level and physical training for soldiers is stepped up. The Commodore said that there must be a comprehensive approach to fitness and physical training of all soldiers from the highest levels of the command within the Force all the way to the Private.The COS along with other Senior Officers distributed trophies and medals to the winning teams. The next Quarterly Fitness Competition is scheduled for November.