Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall yesterday urged contractors in Berbice to ensure that they go above and beyond to deliver on $1 billion worth of contracts awarded to them at the signing of four contracts as part of the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) budget.
The signing of the four contracts with the selected contractors includes the provision of security services for buildings under the RDC, works on the two entrances to the Number 63 Beach, and the extension of the Berbice High School. The signing was held in the RDC’s boardroom.
The project for Provision of Security Services for the Regional Democratic Council Region Six was awarded to Queensway Security Service Inc at a cost of $988,786,754. The project for the rehabilitation of the Number 63 Beach entrance in the Corentyne was awarded to Shaffeeullah Sawmill at a cost of $31,408,110 and the rehabilitation of the Number 61 Beach entrance also in the Corentyne, was awarded to Premium Asphalt at a cost $28,738,190. The extension of the Berbice High School was awarded to N&S General Engineering and Contracting Services at a cost of $14, 828,118.
Dharamlall at the signing ceremony assured that the ministry is conducting itself with the “highest level of transparency and accountability,” hence the public signing.
According to the minister, the budget for Region Six is $6 billion and yesterday’s contracts amounted to just over $1 billion – one sixth of that budget.
“We have more to do but I thought that this being such a significant quantum of the budget that we spend some time publicly speaking about it because Region Six is very critical. Region Six is of the contiguous regions to a neighbouring state where a lot more investment will be placed in this outside of the RDC and through different agencies of the government including at the level of the central government,” the minister was quoted as saying.
According to Dharamlall, Region Six requires the ministry and those awarded, to perform well since in the past there have been too many instances of reports of poor quality work done and poor services being provided.
He told the contractors present that they would have noticed ministers and officials of government regularly in the field visiting projects sites so as to ensure that projects are carried out the way the government expects them to be done and in keeping with the specifications of the contracts.
The minister also emphasised that the placing of unpriced bills of quantities within the project area is non-negotiable and that site visits are expected to be carried out by the Public Works Department with all visits being countersigned by the contractor or their authorised representative.
He also urged contractors to ensure as much as possible that they hire persons within the areas where the projects are being carried out.
In terms of the contract for the provision of security services, Dharamlall pointed out that when President Irfaan Ali conducted his last outreach at the RDC, one of the main complaints from residents was that the previous firm was “not doing justice to the people that were hired.” Dharamlall said: “We see our budget as a source of income and employment and livelihood for people and so we expect you to ensure that whoever you get employed that they perform and do their duties and you also have an obligation to them to make sure that they get paid on time and that all of the discounts that have to be made, that those are also made to their benefit.”
Additionally, the minister pointed out that there have been a number of complaints with issues of security workers’ NIS not being paid by the previous company. This, he said, was unacceptable, “I hope that all of you contractors are making sure that all the staff that you have you pay them what they are supposed to be paid and NIS and all other deductions have to be in order”, the minister cautioned.
He further stressed that workers who benefit directly or indirectly from the regional budget should not meet the age of 60 and have to experience issues with receiving their pension.
Over the years, security officers have complained bitterly to the previous administration about the firm that was previously in place. The guards had even held several protests opposite the firm’s office in New Amsterdam and once even protested to the former president, David Granger, during his visit to Region Six.
Most of their complaints were about the late payment of salaries, their NIS not being paid, and victimisation if they complain. The guards are usually persons of age and most had told Stabroek News in several previous reports that they live pay cheque-to-pay cheque and needed their money to be on time.
However, during one of President Ali’s outreaches in New Amsterdam, the issue was raised repeatedly and the President pledged to look into the situation.
The owner of Queensway Security Service Inc at the signing yesterday told the minister and regional officials present, that his company intends to ensure that the workers are properly remunerated and statutory deductions are made as the company intends to raise their take-home salary.
He also disclosed that they intend to provide medical and life insurance for the security guards, which has never been offered to them by any firm before.
“Many times people tend to look at the contract sum and they say it’s a large sum but indeed it’s a large sum but it’s also a large area and there are a lot of things that we need to do in order to raise the standard and deliver the level of service,” the security service owner was quoted as saying.
The residents have also complained about the deplorable state of the main entrances to the Number 63 Beach which is the main tourist attraction for Region Six. The beach is often used by persons for religious rites as well.
