Nineteen contracts valued at a total of approximately $5.6 billion were signed on Friday for the construction and rehabilitation of several coastland and hinterland bridges, as well as for rehabilitation works on the Kingston wharf, the Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported.
The contract signing exercise was conducted by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud.
The report said the construction of bridges from Kurupukari to Lethem is being done in three lots. The contracts, totalling over $2.4 billion, were awarded to KP Thomas and Sons Contracting Inc, Dax Contracting Services, and Theodore Faria General Contracting Service.
It also said that in addition to the contract already signed recently for the construction of the ‘Blacka Bridge’ in Sophia, two bridges will be constructed within the Diamond/Grove area to accommodate commuters. Contracts were awarded to O&O General Contracting Services and A&A Engineering Service for these bridges on the East Bank Demerara.
Two other contracts were also signed for upgrades at Linden and on the East Coast of Demerara.
According to the report, contracts were also signed for the rehabilitation of public and main access roads. In this regard, contracts valued at a total of $1.8 billion were awarded to Colin Talbot Contracting Service, Surrey Paving & Aggregate Company (Guyana Inc.), Devcon Construction & Contracting Services, SAWA Investment Inc, Vieira 66 Logistics, R&B Investment Inc, AJM Enterprise and Associated Construction Services for the rehabilitation of several public and main access roads.
“Sections of Aubrey Barker Road, Black Bush Polder, Lamaha Street and Arapaima Street, will see upgrades, as well as Canal No. 1 and Canal No. 2 in Region Three,” the report said.
Meanwhile, contracts were also signed for construction works at the Transport and Harbours wharf at Kingston, Georgetown. The contract for upgrades to the Kingston Wharf was awarded to Kares Engineering Inc.
Ivor Allen was awarded the $44.1 million contract for the construction of beacons to aid in navigation at Middle Ground.
Edghill assured that this is critical to ensuring viability, especially with the impending arrival of ferries from India.
“This is to ensure that we can be able to give adequate direction and safety,” he was quoted as saying in the report. Edghill used the occasion to stress the importance of building resilient infrastructure, while at the same time saying that contractors must be sure to work expeditiously to steadily improve the lives of residents living in the communities.
“Nobody is going to sign a contract and park until next year. We don’t rest until we get our work done,” he said.
He also implored all contractors to avoid inconveniencing the residents and urged them to engage communities in the ongoing works. “We should be sensible in our approach in ensuring that when we interrupt people’s lives, it is not for long periods. We have to be mindful that wherever development is going to come, there will be periods of inconvenience and interruption. We have to ensure that we act responsibly to ensure that people’s lives are not interrupted for long periods,” the minister added.
