steps in place to deter inferior work by contractors
The Region Four Regional Administration says its work programme for the year is on schedule and warned that it will be instituting penalties against defaulting contractors.
In a press release Regional Executive Officer Shafdar Alli said that capital works for education, health, drainage and irrigation infrastructure, roads and bridges with expenditure totalling $150.4 million are 30% complete. He said too under the current work programme about 40% of the works are complete.
The release said $32M is expected to be spent on completing the Practical Instruction Centre at Buxton along with major rehabilitation works at the Susannah Rust Primary School located up the Demerara River, the Lusignan and St Andrew’s Primary on the East Coast and Silver Hill Primary on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. These projects are scheduled to be completed by September.
The REO also said that a heavy-duty concrete bridge will be built at a cost of $20 million. The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board is to soon award the contract.
In the area of health, Alli said the health centres at Cane Grove are 30% complete with works about 35% completed on the Unity Health Centre. Also, the rehabilitation to the Dr CC Nicholson Hospital and the Doctor’s and Medex Quarters were to be awarded at a July 1 sitting of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
Additionally, repairs to Cummings Street, Buxton are 65% complete while the rehabilitation of streets in North, Vryheid’s Lust is 70% complete; at Old Road Ogle, 30% complete and at Lincoln Street, Enterprise 2% complete. This project was awarded at a Tender Board Meeting of June 3. Alli also said the slow pace of road works is due to the inclement weather.
In agriculture, the construction of a greenheart revetment at Cane Grove is 65% complete while the construction of a green heart revetment at Enmore has been completed. Also the building of a greenheart revetment at Busby Dam, Craig is 30%; the excavation of a canal at Supply is 2% complete and the rehabilitation of Beterverwagting East Sideline was to be awarded on July 1.
The REO also said all outstanding projects are expected to be advertised, evaluated and awarded before the end of July. He said the regional administration recently issued a stern warning to contractors who fail to carry out works according to specifications. Alli said the region will institute liquidated damages against defaulting contractors and he called on the Regional Democratic Council Works Committee to ensure that works are carried out according to specification, via close monitoring.
He also told residents that it is in their interest to become involved in the development process and urged them to report on evidence of inferior or defective works within their communities.
Alli said that the Engineering Department will increase supervision of works carried out by the contractors to ensure quality works and services are provided to the regional administration.
