While China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) is maintaining that it has completed 97% of works on the US$138 million Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday said the government’s records show a vast difference with less than half of the agreed 17,000 square metres covered under the original agreement completed.
As a result, Edghill is standing by President Irfaan Ali as he currently negotiates with the Government of China to ensure that this country gets what taxpayers are paying for, he said.
“The president is leading the discussions with the Chinese at the highest level, which I am a part of. So every demand that you see I made or ever made, it is what the president has communicated to the Chinese contractor and they are aware of it,” Edghill told Stabroek News.