The Parika Market was in the second phase of its rehabilitation when the complex along with roadside stalls were completely destroyed by a huge fire on Friday afternoon reportedly caused by welding sparks from workmen.
Region Three Chairman, Inshan Ayube yesterday told the Sunday Stabroek that the contract for the second phase of the East Bank Essequibo market was signed late last year and that the company was given a five-month time frame to complete it.
The contract went to Panko Steel Fabrication and Construction. This newspaper had reported on the tender opening on October 11 last year and based on the report, the lone company was Panko which submitted a bid of $270,017,821 for the project, estimated to cost $230,136,170 by the engineers of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.