Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill yesterday terminated the contract for the El Dorado road located after Moleson Creek, Corentyne after the contractor, N&S General Engineering Contracting Services failed to start the project after receiving funds for mobilisation some eight months ago.
The contract which was for 1 km into El Dorado is a continuation of the Moleson Creek to El Dorado Road project which is vital for the construction of the planned Corentyne Bridge.
Edghill visited the location yesterday as part of his two-day visit to Region Six checking on ongoing works. However, at the location, there was no sign of any work.
He pointed out that the contract for the continuation of the road “getting into El Dorado which was supposed to be opening up farm lands and make life easier for the people” has not started.
According to him the contractor received a mobilisation advance of $22m some eight months ago for the 1 km road and has failed to start any sort of work at the location.
He said yesterday, that he had asked to meet the contractor at the location at 8 am. However, at 8.30 am Edghill engaged the media present as neither the contractor nor his workmen showed up at the location.
“There is no visible sign of any work executing this contract and I have said to the PS that this will not be tolerated; his contract must be terminated forthwith.”
Edghill stressed, that the money is available and steps will be taken to select another contractor so that the project is “delivered to the people.”
He added, “We are not going to be in a mode of any contractor doing work … when he feels to do it. When you finish something somewhere else then you gonna come and do this, when you get time when you get money, that is not the way we do it.”
He also pointed out, that when contractors bid for a project they must show that they have the equipment, finance, and personnel to execute the project awarded to them although they might have other ongoing projects at the time.
“This is eight months, a contractor has received $22m of taxpayers’ money, he could have invested, gone to Miami, and gone to wherever he wants to go and the farmers in this community have not benefitted from this.”
Edghill arrived in Region Six on Thursday and visited a number of ongoing projects. Continuing his outreaches yesterday he also checked on the Seaforth Canal where a bridge is being constructed to link the Corentyne highway to Canje.
