By Shuntel Glasgow
As the project deadline for the four-lane Conversation Tree Road from Rupert Craig Highway to Dennis Street and Dennis Street to Sheriff Street, draws near, Minster of Public Works Juan Edghill on a site visit, yesterday upbraided the Trinidadian contractor for poor performance.
Edghill expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the performance of Trinidadian company, Kallco Guyana Inc which was awarded Lot 8 B of the contract which amounted to over $830 million. He went as far to threaten to terminate the contract if the contractor proved unable to meet the expectations of the project. A meeting will be held on Monday to discuss completion of the project. According to the Ministry of Public Works engineer, 25 per cent of the work has been completed and 65 per cent of the contract time has expired.
Residents while voicing their concerns, condemned the Trinidadian contractor for poor communication and what they described as “inhumane” behaviour. They complained that several drains were blocked as a result of the project resulting in a significant backup of stagnant water which in turn became a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
One concerned resident lamented, “They just don’t listen… right now mosquitoes on me because they block off a drain from at the back of me and they didn’t put no drainage. My sink blocking up.” Further, she and others have had to endure a foul scent as a result of the blockage.
These complaints prompted Edghill to visit the site and confront the contractors on spot. They discussed solutions and alternatives to bring relief to the residents from the issues affecting them. Also, pumps will be put into operation immediately in order for the water to recede from the drains.
Edghill informed that the residents of Bel Air and Campbellville contacted him via various means to voice their concerns over the inconvenience caused.
The Public Works Minister told reporters that the project once completed will reduce travel time, and help people to enjoy a less stressful commute. The project will be a four-lane road from Rupert Craig Highway to Dennis Street.
“There are two contractors on site and I have walked the alignment today to see the progress of works. Residents of the Campbellville area voiced their concerns as well as residents of the Bel Air area. Both contractors need to up their game, this project needs to be finished. The contracted obligated time is the 5th of November. Jagmohan seems to be making lots of progress, Kallco is practically making no progress. From the engineer’s advice, 65 per cent of the contract time (has elapsed) and only about 25 per cent of the work is completed.”
Kallco was instructed to meet the minister next Monday at 5pm at his office to determine whether the project will be continuing with the company or terminated. The project engineer will therefore serve the contractor with a Letter of Poor Performance outlined with specific instructions, including that citizens’ access are maintained and the stagnant water issue be addressed immediately.
Issues existing between the community and the contractor will also be addressed, Edghill assured.
“Issues that are agitating in terms of relationships between the community and the contractor… we say … if they don’t change their attitude there’ll be confrontation and many of the questions that I have asked there are no answers”, he said.
There is a community liaison officer attached to the project and her job is to ensure that the community issues are addressed, “There is a community liaison officer on this project and I have asked to meet her tomorrow morning at my office because that is her job to be able to ensure that the community issues are addressed. Somebody’s fence is broken down it must be repaired, somebody’s water main is disturbed, it must be reattached. That is why a project will have a community liaison communication officer so while the contractors are busy working, there is somebody who is dealing with the community, residents and their concerns.”
The section being done by Kallco Guyana was flagged by the minister and the concerns will be addressed administratively. The company has been given seven days to put the necessary systems in place.
After residents from Bel Air Springs stated that their drains are blocked as a result of the project, Edghill, while discussing solutions, informed that a team will desilt the drains while the contractor will implement a system to have pumps work at a scheduled time to drain the water off the land to facilitate both the project and the needs of the residents.
Although S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc has been progressing well thus far, the Public Works Minister has urged them speed up the process and put more effort into completing the project.
