Dear Editor,
Please permit me to respond to a letter published in the Stabroek News yesterday under the headline ‘BK had been asked by ministry to divert resources from Andrews to Mahaicony’.
Editor, allow me to clarify that BK International sought an extension of the project deadline, for the Construction of Sea Defences at Andrews on the Essequibo Coast, in a letter dated August 10, 2020 since emergency works were required at Dantzig, Mahaicony. This request, according to BK International, was approved by David Patterson, former Minister of Public Infrastructure.
Editor, allow me to remind this company that the Irfaan Ali Administration took office on August 02, 2020 and new Ministers assumed office on August 05, 2020. Therefore, I would like to ask the question of how Mr. Ganesh Sawh got permission from Mr. David Patterson, who did not have any authority.
In addition to this glaring failure on the part of the contractor, please allow me to also highlight that this request was made mere days before the initial date of completion for the project.
Editor, although the official commencement date of the contract was January 21, 2020 and completion August 21, 2020, the Ministry granted extensions two times. The contract was supposed to be completed in seven months. A new date of October 9, 2020 was set by the Ministry for completion of the project based on a letter issued on August 17, 2020. It was also mentioned in the letter that the works should be expedited assiduously to have the project completed within the stipulated deadline and failing to satisfy the requirements of the deadline would result in liquidated damages being instituted. On September 30, 2020 based on an inspection conducted by the Ministry of Public Works, the ministry issued a letter to BK International for Non-Performance, reminding the company of the date of completion and its responsibility under Clause 17.2 of the General Conditions of Contract.
BK International Inc then issued a letter dated October 09, 2020 seeking a further extension of time on the contract stating the reason as the Covid 19 Pandemic. On October 09, 2020 the Ministry issued a new date for completion December 31, 2020. On December 28, 2020 BK International wrote seeking a further extension stating that the heavy rainfall was the reason for the project being incomplete and asking for another extension until January 31, 2021. The Ministry did not facilitate this request since the contractor had breached his timeline and had defaulted on the performance of the work more than once.
Editor, during my recent visit to the Sea Defence project at Andrews, Essequibo Coast, to my surprise only 160 feet out of 1000 feet of Sea Defence work had been completed.
It was brought to my attention that the much needed sea defence works only commenced in November 2020.
Editor, please allow me to send a strong message to all contractors that this administration will not sit back and allow for mismanagement or corruption to take place at the cost of Guyanese taxpayers.
The Government and the Ministry of Public Works in particular are committed to ensuring that the public purse is protected and not continuously stripped by incompetent or errant contractors.
Yours in development,
Deodat Indar
Minister within the Ministry of
Public Works
