By Khadidja Ba
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha yesterday said that the riot act has been read to the two companies which were controversially contracted to build pump stations at Belle Vue and Pouderoyen on the West Demerara.
During a year-end press briefing at the Ministry of Agriculture’s office on Regent Street in Georgetown, Mustapha expressed his dissatisfaction with the delays affecting the two pump stations.
Both initiatives are under significant pressure to meet their deadlines — July for Pouderoyen and September for Belle Vue — with the Minister firmly stating that no extensions will be provided. The Pouderoyen’s contract was awarded to Spectre Construction Inc and the Belle Vue project to Tepui Group Inc. Neither of the two had ever built a pump station before and recent visits by Stabroek News to the sites showed that very little work had been done.
When asked by Stabroek News about the progress of these projects, the Minister replied, “I’m hoping so, they are still in the contract period and I am hoping … we met with the contractors with the Chairman of NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority), I have read the Riot Act I said we are not giving any extensions, we will do what we did with other projects, implement the liquidated damages and they have to complete within the time.”
This declaration comes against a backdrop of increasing apprehension regarding the completion schedule for the two pump stations, which are part of a larger initiative to enhance drainage infrastructure in Guyana. The NDIA has been collaborating with contractors to ensure these vital stations, aimed at reducing flooding hazards, are completed on schedule.
Despite the mounting pressure, Mustapha also underscored other efforts by the Ministry to enhance the country’s drainage capacity. He noted that over the past year, the Ministry has commissioned several pump stations, including those at Andrews, Greenwich Park, and Adventure, involving a total investment of 1.8 billion Guyana dollars. These projects are in addition to the ongoing refurbishment of the Montrose Pump Station and the upcoming commissioning of new pump stations at Trafalgar, Liliendaal, Canal Number 1, and West Coast Berbice.
“The system’s capacity is increasing…” the Minister added, emphasizing the significance of this expansion in enhancing the overall drainage framework.
Nonetheless, the pump stations have faced various challenges. Mustapha highlighted issues stemming from previous projects, especially concerning a contractor from the APNU+AFC administration.
“We are collaborating with the contractor responsible for the small, underperforming pump fire engines which are not functional. We’re working together with the Auditor General’s office to replace those pumps,” the Minister commented, signalling a push for accountability in addressing remaining problems.
A recent inquiry conducted by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) regarding the contract awarded for the pump station to Tepui also brought to light worries concerning the timeliness and quality of the work. The PPC report, published in April 2024, emphasized the necessity of strict oversight and suggested that should Tepui fail to meet standards, the contract could be revoked. The commission also raised concerns about Tepui’s lack of experience with pump station construction, despite being granted the contract.
The PPC’s findings indicated that the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had not supplied adequate updates on the project’s status, leading to increased scrutiny. Tepui is helmed by social media personality Mikhail Rodrigues.
A visit from Stabroek News to the site of the Pouderoyen Pump Station offered an up-close look at the challenges faced by the contractor. The $981,201,750 project, set for completion in July 2024, has encountered significant delays due to erratic water levels, which have resulted in continual hindrances.
Spectre had not undertaken major projects prior to this one.
One of the workers on site mentioned that heavy rainfall and high tides have been the main reasons for the delays. “The water has been a concern for us, with high tides and the rain causing setbacks,” the worker stated. “We expect to finish three to four months into the new year. But you see, when those guys are inside, they get anxious about the waves. Additionally, when the wire rope begins to fray.. We try to prevent that. We had to shut down for two weeks because the piles kept cracking. The high tide was occurring, the dam was failing, and flooding the area, which forced us to rebuild”, he added.