Several lampposts which are being put down in Lethem under a $20.5 million contract for the standardisation of its power grid, have been observed to be leaning and residents have expressed concerns.
The labour-only contract was awarded to Daniel Ramoutar and sees the government providing the materials and the contractor providing labour and equipment. It commenced two months ago and is of four months duration.
Contacted, Ramoutar acknowledged that some of the poles were not straight. He said the project entails the planting of poles and in-stalling heavy-duty wires on them.
He said that because the wire is heavier than the usual wire, the poles are under strain.
He pointed out that the project is not finished and when it is completed all faults will be rectified. He said among the things still to be done is the placing of tension guides on the poles to straighten them.
Ramoutar also said that the original contract was for Lethem only. However, he has since been given additional work in the recently commissioned commercial area.
The original work has not been completed but the work in the commercial area is at least 80% done.
Some residents had pointed to the fact that no workers were employed on the project from the area which is badly in need of employment for the many out-of-school youths. When asked why he had to bring workers from coastal Guyana to even dig the holes for the poles, Ramoutar said his company caters for at least 15% of the unskilled labour force coming from the area where the work is being carried out.
He said a few young men from Lethem turned up for work, but when faced with the speed at which they were required to perform, they quit within two days.
The contractor then raised concerns about the non-co-operation of the Regional Democratic Council. He said he had approached Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas for housing for his crew, but was told that he could not be accommodated.
When Stabroek News spoke to Lucas, he said it was not a case of non-co-operation, but rather the fact that the region does not have the facilities.
He said some of the buildings are currently being rehabilitated to house officers and there is none to spare. The contractor and his crew were housed in an unfinished private house and a tarpaulin was used for the roof.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the NDC in Lethem, Terrence Boston, has expressed disgust at the way the NDC is being treated.
He said he had no knowledge of the work since his council, which has responsibility for Lethem was not approached by anyone in the form of consultation or information.
He said he became aware when a crew turned up in front of his yard to dig a hole. Boston said that when he asked, the men informed him of their purpose. He said that that is the way the regional and central government officials treat with the council.
Lucas had told this newspaper that he had advised the contractor to meet the NDC since the work would be carried out in its jurisdiction. He said if that was not done then the contractor is wrong.
