The Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Democratic Council, yesterday awarded $67 million in contracts to eight contractors, to facilitate a number of road works, as well as to carry out construction works at the St. Cuthbert’s Primary and the Kuru Kururu nursery schools.
This is according to a release from the administration, which noted that the signing ceremony for the agreements was held in the RDC’s boardroom at Triumph, East Coast Demerara yesterday, in the presence of the contractors and senior regional officials.
The region indicated that the contracts for the civil works are being funded by a portion of the $507 million allotted to the region for this purpose.
Regional Executive Officer of the region, Pauline Lucas, disclosed that in another week, “some ten odd more major contracts would be given out”, the release said. Additionally, by May of this year, the major projects remaining will be issued to contractors successful in the bidding process. More than 30 projects have been budgeted for this year.
The projects awarded yesterday include for construction work at Friend-ship on the East Bank of Demerara, which will be undertaken by the Guyana Construction and Engi-neering Services to the tune of $7,411,206; the upgrade of the Supply Old Road Street at Vergenoe-gen, which will also be done by Guyana Construc-tion and Engineering Ser-vices to the tune of $8,848,964; the construction of a duplex living quarters at St. Cuthbert’s Primary School on the Linden/Soesdyke High-way, to be executed by Noel Joe’s Construction Service at a cost of $11,046,998.
The construction of a footpath bridge linking the Buxton west side line to Eastville Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, awarded to Linton Nicholl’s Enterprise for $5,778,223; the extension of Kuru Kururu Nursery School, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, a contract awarded to Royal Contracting Services for $11,891,759; the construction of a culvert at the western end of Josiah Street, Haslington, East Coast Demerara, a contract which went to SKI Construction for $4,126, 335; and the upgrade of Two Friend’s Dam, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, which will be constructed at a cost of $11,605,535 by SKI Construction.
The release said that Lucas congratulated the contractors and wished them success, however, she also cautioned them that she would be taking a no-nonsense approach, as in the past, and will be expecting nothing short of quality work delivered in a timely manner.
“I have no reservations in terminating contracts as if you cannot deliver what you’ve signed to them, allow someone else to do it because the region has no intention of paying for substandard work. I am Pauline Lucas, REO for this region and as the accounting officer, no one will allow me to be embarrassed and or disciplined for their inefficiencies because it will not be tolerated. For too long we see taxpayers in this country not getting what they truly deserves and as a Public officer, I will do my part so that you can do your part,” a stern Lucas said.
It was stated that Lucas also reminded them that inefficiencies and substandard work had led to her terminating the contract for the construction of the Supply Health Centre, and warned that if faced with a similar situation, she will do the same again.
“As long as I am the REO things will be done at a very high standard, if you are a contractor you must be able to deliver quality work and let me say in a timely manner, because many times we see contractors not taking deadlines seriously. Well let me say this publicly and you can quote me, it will not be tolerated. You have a contract and you are expected to provide quality work in a timely manner and I urge you to be cognisant of your contract and what is expected of you,” she warned.
