WorldWide Drilling Resource

WorldWide Drilling Resource ® is proud to be a member of these international associations. New Zealand Drillers Federation, Inc. www.nzdrillersfederation.co.nz Ontario Groundwater Association Tel: 519-245-7194 Fax: 519-245-7196 ogwa@ogwa.ca • www.ogwa.ca Australian Drilling Industry Association adia@adia.com.au British Columbia Ground Water Assn. Tel: 604-530-8934 Fax: 604-530-8934 secretary@bcgwa.org • www.bcgwa.org Alberta Water Well Drilling Association Tel: 780-386-2335 awwda@xplornet.com Atlantic Water Well Association Tel: 888-242-4440 Fax: 902-435-0089 nsgwa@ns.aliantzinc.ca • www.nsgwa.ca 51 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MARCH 2015 Water for Life International by Tim Rasmussen The container finally left Seattle on the Veronique . It made the scheduled stops in Oakland, California; and then Balboa, Panama, where the container was unloaded. The container was in Balboa for four days, then was loaded onto the Esther Schulte , a smaller con- tainer ship which could enter the small ports at several countries in Central America. The Esther Schulte made a stop or two, then arrived at Puerto Quetzal on the 24th of November. Mr. Berny Leonardo was at the port on the 25th, and began the process of getting the container through customs and onto a truck for the trip to Northeast Guatemala where our shop is located. As usual, an armed guard would accom- pany the truck on the trip from the port to our shop. I called Berny every day or two, and he let me know the customs process was moving along slowly. The government has increased the procedures for impor- tation. Now, three separate inspections are required. (Naturally, we must pay for each.) Berny was informed by the port authorities that, since the container was on a chassis, there was a fee of 1000Q (quetzals) per day while it was there. There is no use pointing out they made the decision to put it on a chassis when it first arrived and was unloaded. One of the difficulties in importing a container is the shipping company’s office is in Guatemala City, and the fees had to be paid for in-person there, then a document confirming the payment had to be presented in-person to the port authorities. So importing means several round-trips. It is about four hours one way, if the traffic is not bad. Finally, the customs officials pre- sented the bill of 6000USD for the duty on the container. This was in addition to all the fees for inspections, storage, and moving which had been paid as part of the process. Berny paid the fee and they released the container. Finally ready to go! The container left the port on the night of December 5th for the approxi- mately 12-hour trip to our shop. Only local trucks can come into Guatemala City during the day, so trucks carrying goods to other places wait in a huge parking lot outside the city until 10:00 at night when they can go through the city. The container was safely unloaded in the evening of the 6th. Thank the Lord everything was intact. The only damage was to our bank account, but we had enough. In fact, the Lord gives us a never-ending supply of just enough. If you would like to help, please contact Gary Bartholomew at 509-466-5075 or 509-939-1941 Tim Tim Rasmussen may be contacted via e-mail at michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com In Memoriam Gary Michael Jackson (1951~2015) The WWDR Team was very saddened to hear of the loss of our dear friend Gary Michael Jackson of Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. Our hearts and prayers go out to Sue, as well as their family and many friends both in and out of the drilling industry. He will always be remembered in the industry for the terrific job he did as branch manager for Rideau Pipe & Drilling Supplies, Ltd.; how he was the man ensuring those he worked beside enjoyed their roles at Rideau. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent a lot of time at nearby Cranberry Lake. He also loved a good cigar and glass of rum - and Cuba where he could find both. Gary gained pleasure by working with wood in his basement. He was generous and hospitable, with a gentle demeanor and dry sense of humor. Gary leaves behind the love of his life of 22 years, Susan; daughters Jennifer and Amy, and extended family. Gary was honored with a Celebration of Life at their residence in Amherst, on January 31, 2015. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family via www.campbellsamherst.ca Lest We Forget... Don’t cry about the sad times... always remember the good times.