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Local truck operators are complaining bitterly about being sidelined from jobs at the US$150M expansion project at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.This CHEC official was unable to explain how the company was able to hire BaiShanLin.The jobs for fetching sand, they say, was handed illegally several months ago to Chinese-owned logging company, BaiShanLin Forest Development Inc.This particular company is in deep trouble with Government for failing to construct a wood processing facility in Region 10, despite significant reports of timber harvesting and an equal, unknown amount in log exports.The establishment has been here almost a decade and granted hundreds of millions of dollars in tax and duty free concessions.For several months now, log exports have been halted for BaiShanLin pending an assessment by Government regulators of their operations. The company says that it is awaiting financing from the China Development Bank for the processing facility and wants a two-year extension.The duty free concessions were for trucks, skidders, excavators and other equipment to be used specifically for BaiShanLin’s activities in their logging concessions.It would be a breach of the company’s investment agreement to use it elsewhere, in another sector, or in this case, for hire to another company.The exact amount of trucks and equipment BaiShanLin shipped in has never been disclosed,Johnny Bench Reds Jersey, but insiders believe that the company has at least 200 trucks.The duty free concessions had been a hot topic of interest for Guyana, and for the current Government,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, which while in Opposition prior to the May 11th general elections,Nick Castellanos Tigers Jersey, spoke vehemently about it.Yesterday,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, based on complaints by local truck operators,Jerseys From China Online, reporters from Kaieteur News confirmed that scores of trucks from BaiShanLin are working on the runway expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.In a compound managed by the CJIA contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), several of BaiShanLin’s trucks and equipment were seen. There was evidence that crude attempts had been made to cover up the logo of BaiShanLin on a number of trucks. Some of the logos were painted over while others were covered by white plastic.However, the registrations were still in BaiShanLin’s company name.Another section of the CHEC’s compound with some of BaiShanLin’s trucks.CHEC officials were unwilling to talk about it and instead summoned an armed guard to demand that the reporters vacate the area.One senior CHEC employee who claimed he is in charge, was seen on the phone constantly talking.Workers confirmed that BaiShanLin has been hired to transport sand for the runway extension which has been shifted from the northern end to the southern side.In addition to trucks, it appeared that BaiShanLin’s heavy equipment is on site as well, but with little identifying marks, it was hard to tell.It is unclear whether CHEC’s contract allowed it to hire BaiShanLin without going to tender.As a matter of fact, the contract signed between the Government of Guyana and CHEC,Carlos Santana Indians Jersey, and dated November 2011, placed the provision of sand as a responsibility of the Government of Guyana.“The Employer will provide the sand and other fill material (sites) to the contractor for free, and the distance from material source to the project site shall be within 12 km, but if the distance is more than 12 km, the transportation fee will be increased according to actual distance. The Employer shall be fully responsible for the quantity, quality and timely supply of the abovementioned sand and other fill material,” the contract said.CHEC also agreed to use local nationals and make sure the proportion of the Chinese labour and the local nationals will not be less than the ratio of 6:4, except for special skills.It is unclear yesterday which consultant has been retained to supervise the project on behalf of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.BaiShanLin is facing problems also with the Labour Department and has been warned to correct a number of infractions. A housing project at Providence has been stalled along with a massive showroom, apparently because of finance.In the meantime, BaiShanLin has ventured into the gold mining sector,NFL Jerseys Outlet, concrete mixing and rental of its barges. |
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