The Ministry of Public Works today said that an area of the East Bank Highway Expansion project where GT&T cables were damaged by construction activity had not been assigned to BK International for work to be done.
The statement came following dueling press releases from GT&T and BK International over who was responsible for the damage to the cable and delays in the work.
The Public Works Ministry lent credence to the GT&T statement.
The Ministry statement said in part “The area in which the cable was damaged was not assigned by the Consultants to the project for works to be executed by the contractor, BK International.
“The Ministry of Public Works will continue consultations with the Consultant, Contractor and GT&T with respect to the timely scheduled removal of the cable which is also contingent on financing approvals.”
The press releases issued by GT&T and BK International follow:
GT&T press release
GT&T notes with considerable concern the unethical attempt by BK International Inc. to deliberately misrepresent the facts surrounding his company’s damage of GT&T’s cable infrastructure yesterday at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. We categorically reject the distortions emanating from BK International Inc. The facts of the matter are as outlined below.
i) The location of yesterday’s cable damage is entirely outside of the area where GT&T and the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) have agreed that GT&T will carry out contract works at this point in time.
ii) BK International uprooted a structurally sound pole and in the process damaged our buried cable infrastructure.
iii) The cable infrastructure could not remain exposed. As such, GT&T had to replace the pole almost immediately.
iv) GT&T informed the competent authority, Works Services Group of the Ministry of Public Works, of the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s cable damage and we are aware that the Group made contact with the contractor.
As we have said before, our counterpart in Government road construction activities is the Ministry of Public Works and not any individual contractor. Therefore, while we remain ready and willing to collaborate with all road construction contractors, our preference is to continue to work through the Ministry rather than trade accusations with any contractor via the media.
BK International press release
GEORGETOWN, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2014: BK International will not accept responsibility for any damaged GT&T cables on the new carriageway of the East Bank Four- Lane Extension Project (the area between the Diamond Intersection and the Diamond DSL Supermarket) as GT&T had indicated since May, that cables in the section would have been removed.
In a statement issued on May 22, 2014, GT&T stated that “On February 28th 2014, GT&T and the Ministry entered into a contract to relocate aerial cables and associated fixtures to a new pole route and to relocate the buried cables. The release had further indicated that the company was scheduled “to commence works during the week of May 25th 2014.”
GT&T also stated that it received payment on May 20, 2014, for the relocation of all telephone cables and poles that will affect the progress of works in this area.
In spite of the assurances provided, GT&T on Wednesday accused BK International of damaging its cables.
BK International crews were working on the new carriageway on Wednesday when an old GT&T pole collapsed causing disruption in telephone service to several customers.
Wednesday’s planting of a new pole in the center of the carriageway by GT&T has halted the project in the area and bridge works cannot proceed since access from the northern side is now blocked.
