The laying of a fibre optic cable for government’s e-governance initiative is behind schedule and May 26 has been set as the new deadline for the completion of the project.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, technical advisor for the civil works aspect of the project Walter Willis said that Lots 1, 3 and 5 are still to be completed. He said that those undertaking construction have been advised to pour more resources into getting the job completed. These include both human and mechanical resources.
The project had been divided into five lots. Lot 1 runs from Lethem to Annai and covers 140 km. So far 8 km has been completed by the contractors, Mekdeci Machinery and Construction Inc. Lot 3 covers the area from Kurupukari to Mabura and is 120 km. Contractors Mekdeci Machinery and Construction Inc have not commenced construction in this lot. Lot five runs from Block 22, Wismar to Providence on the East Bank Demerara, and this is being undertaken by the Dynamic Engineering Company Ltd. This lot consists of 110 km, with 50 km being aerial and 51 buried. So far 60 per cent of this project has been completed.
Lot 2, which runs from Annai to Kurupukari (and includes the Kurupukari submarine river crossing) is 100 km in length, and has been completed by Mekdeci. Dax Construction Services has completed Lot four which covers 100 km from Mabura to Block 22, Wismar.
According to Willis, work commenced in January, and the entire project was expected to be finished within 3 and a half months. The companies that were awarded more than one lot were required to work on them simultaneously, he explained. Chinese company Huawei is the entity serving as the supervisory consultants for the project.
Willis said that a new completion date has been set for the middle of May, with the deadline being May 26. This date was chosen so as to coincide with Guyana’s independence anniversary. After the cable-laying is completed, Huawei will take over and oversee the installation of equipment and connectivity checks, Willis explained.
Government’s investment in the fibre optic cable from Brazil has been plugged as an initiative to push e-governance in the country, as well as an opportunity to improve access to internet locally.
