GUYANA GeorgeTown Key information: International telephone Code: 592 Capital: Georgetown Official Language: English Area: 215,000 square km (83,000 square miles) Population: 775,000 Currency: Guyana dollar Public Holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan) - Republic Day (23 Feb) Phagwah (March) - Good Friday - Easter Monday Eid ul Azha Labor Day (1 May) - Independence Day (26 May) Youman Nabi Caricom Day (1st Mon July) - Emancipation Day (1st Mon August) - Divali (October/November)Christmas Day (25 December) - Boxing Day (26 December) Government ministry responsible for shipping: Ministry of Works & Transport, Georgetown National Shipping Association of Guyana Port Georgetown is situated on the north coast of Guyana along the east bank of the Demerara River. It stretches for 16 km inward from the river mouth along the Demerara ship channel, with an average depth of 6.21 metres at low tide. Since 1 July 1999 the port has been run by a Maritime Administration Department operating under the aegis of the Maritime Act. Previously, port operations were administered by the Transport & Harbours Department as an agency of the Ministry of Works & Transport. Independent: Port Georgetown has a number of independent pier operators, either privately owned or public corporations. Principal among these are John Fernandes Ltd, Muneshwars Ltd, Guyana National Shipping Corporation Ltd, Guyana National Industrial Company Inc, Guyana Fertilizers Ltd, Demerara Sugar Terminals Ltd, and Deo's International Distribution Company Ltd (DIDCO). The Guyana Sugar Corporation operates a bulk loading facility for sugar and the Caribbean Molasses Company Ltd has a similar facility for molasses. These operators and other shipping interests have come together to form the Shipping Association (Guyana) Inc in order to present a unified front in pursuit of common interests. The association is administered by an executive council, elected annually and consisting of the president, vice president, secretary/treasurer and three committee members representing specific interests. Resilience: Decisions by the association are not legally binding on members, so adherence is based on moral suasion. Port Georgetown is an old infant whose path to development was strewn with numerous constraints but whose proven resilience augurs well for the future. Relevant authorities are engaged in pursuing recommendations by experts commissioned by the IADB for the further development of the port to accommodate the rapid pace of technological innovations.
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