River Navigation Act (Cap. 50:01)

LAWS OF GUYANA River Navigation 3Cap. 50:01 L.R.O. 3/1998 CHAPTER 50:01 RIVER NAVIGATION ACT ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Appointment of officer to have charge of navigation of river. 4. Appointment of deputy of officer. 5. Appointment of subordinate officers. 6. Scope of order of appointment. 7. Regulations relating to navigation of rivers. 8. River navigation improvement work. 9. Annual report of officer. 10. Appropriation of fees. 11. Payment of expenses under the Act. 12. Saving of rights of Amerindians. 13. Procedure for enforcing attendance of witnesses at inquiry. An Act to make provision for the more safe and convenient navigation of the Rivers of Guyana. [25TH JULY, 1891] 1. This Act may be cited as the River Navigation Act. 2. In this Act— ‘’boat” means any kind of craft used for the navigation of any river or lake in Guyana other than a vessel; “officer” means the person appointed to take charge of the navigation of a river or rivers of Guyana, or of any specified part or parts thereof; 1929 Ed. c. 128 1953 Ed. c. 270 17 of 1891 Short title. Interpretation. [18 of 1944 8 of 1948] LAWS OF GUYANA River NavigationCap. 50:014 “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this Act; “river” includes a creek, and also, unless the contrary is expressly provided, includes all the tributaries of a river; “vessel” means any kind of craft used for the navigation of any river or lake in Guyana which has not less than three-quarters of its length, measured at the water line, covered with decking. 3. (1) There shall be a public officer who shall have charge of the navigation of any river or rivers of Guyana or of any specified part or parts thereof. (2) Every appointment made under this section shall be published in the Gazette. 4. (1) There shall be a public officer who shall, in respect of any tributary or specified part of a river, be deputy to the officer appointed under section 3. (2) The deputy, subject to the general control and direction of the officer, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authorities of the officer on that tributary or specified part. 5. There shall be such subordinate officers and servants as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 6. An instrument appointing an officer may specify the limits within which he is to exercise jurisdiction and the place where his office shall be situated, and may define his functions and powers. 7. (1) The Minister may make regulations relating to all or any of the following matters: (a) the examination, or testing as to competency in the navigation of any river or rivers or of any specified portion thereof, of masters of vessels and of steersmen and bowmen of boats; and the issue to them of certificates of competency; Appointment of officer to have charge of navigation of river. Appointment of deputy of officer. Appointment of subordinate officers. Scope of order of appoint ment. Regulations relating to navigation of rivers. [18 of 1944 8 of 1948 6 of 1997] LAWS OF GUYANA River Navigation 5Cap. 50:01 L.R.O. 3/1998 (b) the payment of a fee, not exceeding sixty-five dollars, for the certificate; and the suspension or cancellation of a certificate for sufficient cause; (c) the registration of the masters, steersmen and bowmen; (d) the inspection, registration, and licensing of vessels and boats and the payment of fees therefor; (e) the fixing of the carrying capacity of vessels and boats, in respect of both persons and goods; (f) generally, the prevention of accidents in the navigation of any river or rivers or of specified parts thereof, and the proper discipline and control of traffic thereon; (g) the conveyance and care of sick persons to hospital or dispensary for treatment and the payment and recovery of expenses in connection therewith, and the punishment of any person found guilty of misrepresentation, or anyone who aids or abets that person; (h)the control of the size, structure, navigation and mooring of timber rafts. (2) There may be annexed to the breach of any regulation made under this Act such penalty, not exceeding forty-eight thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, as may be prescribed, and such penalty may be sued and recovered under the Summary Jurisdiction Act. 8. (l) The Minister, if he thinks fit, may require an officer to undertake and carry out, and maintain any work for the improvement of the navigation of any river or to take charge of and maintain that work. (2) Any work mentioned in the requisition, and any property of any kind in connection therewith, shall be vested in the officer. 9. In the month of January in every year an officer shall make to the National Assembly a report of his proceedings and of the condition of the navigation of the river or rivers in his charge during the preceding year. 10. All sums of money received under or by virtue of this Act shall be paid to the Accountant General for the public use. River navigation improvement work. Annual report of officer. [18 of 1944] Appropriation of fees. LAWS OF GUYANA River NavigationCap. 50:016 11. All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Act, including the salary and allowances of any officer appointed hereunder, shall be defrayed from moneys provided by Parliament. 12. Nothing in this Act shall affect boats belonging to Amerindians and used by them solely for their own purposes: Provided that any regulation made under section 7 for the carrying of lights shall apply to boats belonging to Amerindians when such boats are being used by them upon those portions of the rivers of Guyana below the first falls. 13. The provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act as to summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses shall apply in the case of any inquiry held by an officer under any regulations made under this Act as if he were a magistrate and the subject matter of the inquiry were an offence punishable on a summary conviction. Payment of expenses under the Act. Saving of rights of Amerindians. [29 of 1961] Procedure for enforcing attendance of witnesses at inquiry. c. 10:02