– contract was signed in September 2021
The Adventure pump station, construction of which began in late 2022 has finally come into operation with the expectation of providing faster drainage to a section of Black Bush Polder, Region Six, including the Cookrite Savannah which is often easily flooded.
That the pump had not been in operation during recent flooding in the area had been a sore matter for residents.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha yesterday visited the location where a test run was done showing that the pump station, a contract for which was signed over 30 months ago, is completely operable.
The Department of Public Information had reported that the contract for the Adventure Pump Station was signed on September 8, 2021. It is unclear what the original deadline was for the completion of the pump station, however, Mustapha had previously told Stabroek News that the $448m project was a “multi-year” project and when asked again yesterday he said that the project was completed within its time “multi-year time frame.”
A consultant, on the project, Dr Narine, who was also present yesterday also confirmed that the project was completed within its time frame. The contractor is Anil Sawh of D. Sawh Mechanical Workshop
According to the minister, the pump station was completed about three months ago, however, they were awaiting the completion of the discharge pipe, “the contractor has completed (the) discharge pipe, he only has to put a piece down more and I’m hoping that in two weeks’ time we will commission this pump.”
Despite this, Mustapha stressed that at the moment the pump is completely operable. “The pump will be operable from now on, if there is heavy rainfall or excessive water in Black Bush Polder, the pump will be operable to drain the area… The capacity of this pump is 300 cusec per minute, 150 each for the two pumps that are here.”
Stressing that he is happy the pump station has been completed, Mustapha said that it will complement the drainage system in Black Bush Polder “where all the major outfalls, Eversham, Number 43 and Adventure, we will have complementing the drainage system; the outfalls with the pumps.”
The mobile pump which was located at the Adventure outfall is now expected to be relocated to another area on the Corentyne.
Meanwhile, Mustapha noted that contractors who are “delinquent” will be issued with liquidated damages charges and this has already commenced.
“We have already start liquidating damages on those contracts and I am hoping that those contracts can be completed shortly so we can commission those pump stations”, he added.
In terms of the Black Bush Polder (front-lands) pump station, Mustapha said that they had cause to terminate that contract from Yunas Civil and Building Construction and this has since been re-awarded to a Berbice company called Quality Deliverer. Additionally, he noted, that “A Line One in Region Three was terminated and that will be retendered shortly too.”
Additionally, Mustapha said that there is a pump station in Vergenoegen, Region Three which is expected to be commissioned soon, while there are other pump stations around the country which are over 70% completed.
Mustapha stressed, “What we are doing now we are looking to ensure that we have these pump stations completed as early as possible or we deal with the issues to charge liquidated damages or terminate where the case might be.”
