Dear Editor,
I was pleasantly surprised with SN article of June 21, 2009 which reported that the Government of Guyana (GoG) through the Ministry of Local Government has elevated without any pre-qualification the Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Company, Puran Brothers, as a contractor to build an access road to the dumpsite within the city of Georgetown.
By admission of its manager, the company has no road-building experience. However, this now apparently diverse company with seemingly hidden talents and capabilities is now an approved GoG roads contractor and will be put to the test to build important sections of road in the city.
It was noted that this project is being financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which should ensure that the contractor was selected under its Cost and Quality-Based Procedures. It is hoped also, that the IDB will ensure that its other procurement guidelines are adhered to by the borrower before disbursements are made even if the funding is a grant and not a loan.
Many of the roads in Leguan, Wakenaam, Republic Park, Bel Air Park, BV/Triumph and elsewhere along coastal Guyana constructed by several GoG agencies were not designed or built with any specific engineering standards in mind, since extremes and inconsistencies are found everywhere and alignments are quite variable and often tortuous. Sub-grades and drainage characteristics vary considerably within short distances. It is because of these factors that the pavements have to be repaired, patched and re-sealed in relatively short lengths, and without timely periodic maintenance to prevent further deterioration, expensive major reconstruction has to be undertaken eventually which unfortunately seems to take a lifetime. Lack of rigorous supervision and adequate control over and attention to specifications during construction compound this widespread poor quality of work.
Under these circumstances it is expected GoG would be very particular in the selection of the consultants and contractors for its roads and other projects, to ensure they have the experience, technical capability and resources to undertake the assignments given to them. Unfortunately, most GoG projects are poorly designed and supervised with appropriate construction techniques and project management lacking among contractors, resulting in sub-standard work, extensive time and cost overruns and no penalties enforced.
Therefore, unless contractors and consultants are selected under quality and cost-based procedures, it will be difficult for GoG to have drawings, specifications and the supervision of construction for projects undertaken by competent consultants and have them built by contractors with proven track records in a timely manner and within budget.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Sohan
