The controversial $600 million High Street complex that was proposed as the main office for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will see a retender soon for its completion.
“The announcement on when it will be retendered will be made very soon and NPTAB [National Procurement and Tender Admin-istration Board] will be the ones overlooking that process not us,” Chairman of the GGMC’s Board of Directors Clinton Williams told Stabroek News.
The complex, which stands at the site of the former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, was built in 2008 and has since been the source of much controversy due to defects in construction.
A source had told Stabroek News last year that the building’s foundation contained sub-standard material and the contractor, Kishan Bacchus Construction Company, had carried out works on the foundation and on the interior of the building that were in excess of contractual specifications.
It was also said that the ceiling of the building was improperly designed and as a result the placement of air vents and roofing works would have resulted in limited vertical space and the situation would need to be rectified. It should be noted, however, that Kishan Bacchus Construction Company only secured the contract after the initial contractor backed out of the project. It is unclear if anyone has ever been penalised for the substandard work done.
Previously, the GGMC had invited and evaluated the bids but contention over the award last year saw the project put on hold and garnering the attention of Cabinet.
It was after Cabinet’s deliberations that a decision was made by the GGMC board to have the tender process facilitated by NPTAB.
Stabroek News was told by a source that there had been many objections after the GGMC had awarded the contract to a company with links to the firm that had allegedly produced substandard work on the building and which had its contract terminated. It was explained that the firm allegedly retendered for the project, using an affiliate’s name and this was brought to the attention of a minister of government by another contractor who had knowledge of both companies.
When this newspaper visited the building last week, the gate to the entrance was locked but it was obvious that no work had been undertaken from when checks were made last year. Although construction ceased, the building was never completed, and the existing structure is plagued with various defects.
Williams said that while he cannot give a specific date for the contract opening, he will get all the information and make it public, while pointing out that soon NPTAB would be make public tender information.
At the time of construction, the government had intended the building to house the Labour Ministry but that was changed and plans were going ahead to have the Guyana Revenue Authority moved there. Eventually, in August of 2012, Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud said the premises had been transferred to the GGMC.
However, employees of GGMC still object to being stationed in the building as they maintain that the new building in their Brickdam compound was built for them and not the Ministry of Natural Resources, which currently occupies it.
“After completion we would like to see the minister take his staff from [the ministry] over there and leave us here… we have said already if it will be so grand and state-of-the-art why don’t they then occupy it… we have our reservations,” a staff member told this newspaper.
“We don’t want big and grand and state-of-the-art. This one is just good enough for us. Let minister take big and grand… give us what was allocated to us. Be fair. That’s all we want,” the staff member added.
