Construction of the Bamia/Amelia’s Ward Primary School in Region Ten by St8ment Investment Inc has progressed and is now on schedule, contractor, Rawle Ferguson, said on Friday.
Speaking with the Stabroek News, Ferguson said that they have completed at least 35% to 40% of works. He added that since the recommencement of works in October, they have met their target to complete 6% of works monthly.
Works were stalled on the project for several months earlier this year due to what was described as unforeseen circumstances. However, the contractor explained that they are still challenged with regard to the supply of sand, steel, and stone, due to the high demand around the country.
He however assured that they are pushing to get the work done and meet their deadline.
Construction work closed off for the holiday season on Friday and is expected to resume by today.
The project is being undertaken under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and in July of last year, the bids were opened. Four companies – Bulkan Timber Works Inc ($349,595,065), St8ment Investment Inc ($346,327,748), Orin’s Supreme Enterprise ($348,726,772), and A Nazir & Son Contracting & General Supplies ($340,549,671) – tendered for the project.
St8ment, with the second-lowest bid, received the contract in November of 2021 which was signed by the principals of the company and Regional Executive Officer, Dwight John.
The project was expected to last for 20 months and is intended to benefit almost 800 students. A one-year defects liability period, after the completion of works, is catered for. Based on the original expected duration of the project, the school should be completed around June next year.
Works were stalled for over two months with no explanation provided to the Regional Democratic Council as to the reason behind the move. Some $68 million had been paid over to the contractor.
The project has also faced a backlash from civil society since it was awarded to a company only incorporated in March of last year and whose principals were mainly involved in entertainment and sport. In addition, there is limited information on the company’s track record.
Around 10 months after the contract was awarded, this newspaper visited the site and it was evident that works had been stalled for a number of months now. The steel on the foundation was already corroding and a large chunk of the foundation was yet to be completed.
Stabroek News also observed that apart from a few wheelbarrows and a concrete mixer, there was no other equipment on site. This newspaper also spoke with a few residents in the area and they said that it was almost three months since the construction work had ceased. Additionally, they noted that prior to the stopping of work, the contractors had significantly slowed down their activities.
St8ment Investment Inc’s principals have been closely linked to the PPP/C Government. The company’s principals are Ferguson and Kerwin Bollers of Hits and Jams Entertainment along with Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammed of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.
The PPP/C government has appointed the company’s principals, Major, as Chairman of the Guyana Tourism Authority, while Muhammed is Chairman of the National Sports Commission’s board.
