Construction work on a Canvas City, Linden, road which was halted by several persons dissatisfied with the design has resumed, prompting Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, to declare his intolerance to any disruptions to such works.
A release yesterday from the Ministry of Public Works stated that the works were stopped on Sunday by persons described as being “politically motivated.” It was reported that some residents, along with senior officials from the mayor’s office allegedly bullied and intimidated the work crew on site in Canvas City, and caused the work to stop because they were not in agreement with the road project design.
The Canvas City concrete road under construction will measure 367 metres in length, with a width of 6.1 metres, and upon completion will link Canvas City and Block 22, Wismar.
As such, the minister and his engineering team yesterday met with residents to address their concerns and based on what he heard; he noted that some persons are demanding some things that are not included in the contract. “And those demands that are not included in the project means that the contractor cannot do what he has been instructed to do, and he cannot expend money that is not available in his contract to do.”
According to the release, the team explained the design of the project, which is based on the bill of quantities, so that everyone would be aware of the structure being built. It was also pointed out that this information would have already been made public before the start of the project back in September.
Edghill then declared his refusal to “play politics” with government works and that disruptions will not be tolerated. “I want to make it very clear; I am not going to play politics with the development of Guyana, and I am not going to play politics with the works that are taking place in Linden. Because the complaint has been how government is doing nothing, now government is doing everything that we can do, more than we would have ever done, and if the modus operandi of those who are anti-development is to come out and intimidate contractors and prevent work from taking place, will not be tolerated.”
He also assured that disruptors will be held accountable and that the project as well as development in Linden will continue.
