Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday stated that while the “physical progress” of the Linden to Mabura Hill Road Project is currently at 25 per cent, he believes it should have been 50 percent.
The minister made this statement during a year-end press briefing held at the Ministry of Public Works’ boardroom in Wight’s Lane, Kingston, Georgetown.
He told reporters yesterday that the contracting company Constructora Queiroz S.A. of Brazil now needs to get its act together and expeditiously complete the road project.
“They [Constructora Queiroz S.A] got to keep moving, we have to get this project completed on time so in 2024 we expect to accelerate progress in that regard”.
The public works minister continued, “When I told you that our expenditure was at 87 per cent, this is part of the shortcomings because we budgeted for more because we anticipated more works being done but the contractor did not perform in the way we expected.”
Edghill in an update on the project, informed that 2,835 metres of drains have been completed, as well as 18,960 metres of cement stabilized sub-base, and 16,330 metres of asphaltic concrete.
It is expected that the road which is being done in phases, when fully paved to Lethem, will open up massive business opportunities with Brazil.
Stabroek News during the question-and-answer segment of the press conference asked the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Works, Vladim Persaud, for an update on Alya Construc-tora, a company which was issued a cease-work order by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for mining laterite without a licence.
The Brazilian Company was mining the laterite to complement works on the Linden to Mabura Hill Project.
Assistant Project Manager and Engineer, Heidi Gillette (an employee of the Public Works Ministry) in response to the question said that the company had applied through a local partner for a licence and GGMC indicated that the Alya Constructora would be issued that permit shortly.
Asked if the lack of the mining licence for laterite in any way contributed to the delay of the road project, Edghill responded: “There is no reason for works to stop on the project, laterite, loam, sand, stone is to be procured from wherever it is available and not from just one particular place, so they [the company] cannot use that as an excuse to not get the job done.”
Malali residents had raised concerns over the Brazilian company that was mining laterite from their land without fully compensating them for the activities taking place.
This was also revealed at the 57th sitting of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) where Opposition Member Ganesh Mahipaul asked whether the villagers were being compensated for laterite mining on their Indigenous land.
It was then Persaud disclosed that GGMC had issued a cease order to the Brazilian company for the mining of laterite.
Subsequently, Mahipaul had requested copies of the contract with the Brazilian firm, as well as signed agreements for compensation between the company and the village to be forwarded to the PAC as evidence. A document granting permission for the company to mine laterite was also requested.
The sod for the construction of the road was turned in May 2022 after the contract was awarded to Constructora Queiroz S.A.
The road project is being funded by the Government of Guyana, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the United Kingdom, at a cost of US$190 million.
A release from the government stated that the Linden to Mabura Road forms part of the government’s transport infrastructure integrated development plan, which includes a new high-span bridge across the Demerara River and the bridge across the Corentyne River linking Guyana and Suriname. The development of this all-weather road will also bolster trade and commerce to unlock the vast opportunities to be had by linking Guyana with Brazil.
In February 2021, the CDB issued its “no objection” for negotiations to commence with the most responsive bidder, Constructure Queiroz Galvao S.A., from Brazil, which was awarded the contract for the upgrading of the road. This section of the highway between Linden and Lethem is the first segment of the approximately 450-kilometre thoroughfare.
The project comprises a US$112 million loan from the CDB, a grant of £50 million (US$66 million) from the Government of the United Kingdom via the CDB-administered United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, along with US$12 million provided by the Guyana Government.
It is also the largest single project ever financed by the CDB.
The road will be 121 kilometres long with a 7.2 metres wide carriageway. It will include a cycle and pedestrian lane measuring 2 metres wide, along with 10 bus stops outfitted with ramps for persons with disabilities. In addition, several bridges and culverts will be replaced, and some 123 lights will also be installed.
