$867M road, drainage works for Parfaite Harmonie communities

A total of $867 million in contracts was signed on Friday under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme to carry out rehabilitation works of roads and drainage in six communities located within Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Following a national competitive bidding process, six local contractors were awarded the contracts to execute the works which include the construction of 9.1km of roads to asphaltic concrete; the construction of 2.2km of concrete drains; 5km construction of sidewalks; the construction of 50 culverts and 35km of rehabilitation and construction of drains.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal stated that the construction of the roads and drains follows a number of complaints about the deplorable road network in the communities.

“I know a lot of persons from the Parfaite Harmonie cluster have been writing a lot of letters and have been calling and inquiring about when [they could] have their roads rehabilitated,” Minister Croal said.

He urged contractors to utilise the workforce from the communities and reminded them to immediately contact the ministry about any challenges they might encounter.

“We are willing to provide any assistance you might need,” Minister Croal said.

The contractors were also charged to treat employees with respect, follow the labour laws and observe all of the COVID-19 protocols. According to Croal, the contractors should seek to have all workers vaccinated and must provide all necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

“To skimp on these would be to the detriment of the project and the welfare of your own staff and workers,” Minister Croal stated.

Additionally, the contractors are required to cultivate a working relationship with the residents and communicate to them any inconvenience that may occur as a result of the ongoing works. This, the minister said must be done in a timely and respectful manner, while the ministry will also be monitoring the progress of the works

It is expected that with the construction of the roads and drains in Schoonard, Recht-Door-Zee, Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, Lust-en-Rust and Westminster, the lives of residents will improve.

“It is important to note that these works are in the low income area of the La Parfaite Harmonie housing area,” Director of Projects Omar Narine revealed.

The project will be executed in six lots by six contractors. The contractors and the works they will be executing are as follows: