China Harbour Engine-ering (T&T) Ltd (CHEC) is moving ahead with the construction of the MovieTowne Guyana complex at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara following the signing of a US$30M contract.
The Chinese firm, which is currently signed on as the contractor for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project, announced in a release on December 8, 2014 that it had signed the contract in Port of Spain, Trinidad with Derek Chin, Chair-man of Multi-Cinema Guyana Incorporated.
While all the piles have already been driven into the ground, previously done by BK International from April of 2013, CHEC workers are now on the job site continuing preparatory work.
So far the contractor is assessing how to begin the foundation for the entire site which will sit roughly five feet above the current elevation.
The elevation is in keeping with building guidelines along the coast which require that all commercial properties sit at a minimum one metre above the current elevation following the 2005 Great Flood.
Stabroek News understands that the immediate focus is to build the temporary structures including office facilities and some of the permanent structures.
The site has seen renewed activity in recent days after being at a standstill for over a year. Initially Movie Towne was to be operational by late 2015, however the contract with CHEC states that the private investment will take up to 18 months for construction completion.
Prior to CHEC winning the tender for the construction project, Vikab Engineering Consultants Ltd of Trinidad had subcontracted out the work. Chairman of Multi-Cinema Guyana Incorporated, Derek Chin had previously told Stabroek News that the reasoning behind hiring Vikab Engineering was because finding competent consultants in Guyana proved difficult, which he blamed on the bureaucratic process. He said he had worked with Vikab before and was made aware of its association with the construction of the Guyana International Convention Centre at Liliendaal.
Chin told Stabroek News that the 30 acres of land was purchased for “US$1 million and some change,” from the Government of Guyana and that he was pleased with the price paid. He added that doing business in Guyana proved to be economically viable, saying that the land use policy made it worthwhile to foreign investors. “In a way, they may be giving a couple million, but they are gaining way more than that,” he said.
From the original announcement in November 2011 of a 40,000 square foot complex, costing US$20 million which would contain six cinemas, plans have now expanded by 20,000 square feet and two more cinemas.
