Seven contractors were put on notice that substandard works will not be accepted by the Ministry of Public Works as over $1.4 billion in contracts were signed for major infrastructural projects in Regions Four, Five and Six on Friday.
The contracts were signed in the Ministry of Public Works’ Boardroom. Among the eight contracts handed over was for continued rehabilitation works on the dilapidated Cane Grove access road, East Bank Demerara, to improve ease of travel for residents.
Works on that project are being completed in phases; the first and fourth phases constitute the scarification of the highway, which requires placement of crusher aggregates and asphaltic concrete while, the second and third phases constitute the full reconstruction of the carriageway, which entails placing geo-fabric on the sub-base, white sand/sand clay, crusher aggregates and asphaltic concrete.
Phases one and three were completed by Colin Talbot Construction and the remaining phases will now be completed by Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc to the tune of $117 million.
The contract for the No. 58 Corentyne All-Weather Road all the way to the Canje Creek was also handed over to Guyamerica Construction Inc. to the tune of $640 million.
And works will also commence on the No. 52 Corentyne All-Access Road with the contract being handed over to Associated Construction Services to the tune of $239 million. Both projects, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill reminded, are set to open up more than 60,000 acres of new lands as both are positioned in agriculture-dependent communities.
“Our intent is to have the works accelerated and even though, it is late in the year, we have to get those works day from day one,” Minister Edghill said.
He noted too that requisite studies have already been completed for both projects. Also on the list of contracts handed over was for the construction of the Moleson Creek to El Dorado road in Region Six. That contract was awarded to Shffeeullah Sawmill to the tune of $151 million.
Edghill emphasised the importance of this project being completed because it will provide better road access to farmers in the community along with access to the alignment of the intended Corentyne River Bridge.
Edghill explained that the road will be constructed using laterite – a soil and a rock type rich in iron and aluminium – and should be 7.2 metres thick.
The Public Works Minister also issued a stern warning to the contractors to mobilise works immediately. He reminded the contractors that they won the contracts through a competitive bidding process and they should be ready to deliver quality work to the communities they will be deployed to.
He also put on record that the unmarked bill of quantities should be presented to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) for public perusal. This ensures greater transparency and that the citizens are getting their monies worth.
View the full list of the contracts below:
| No. | Project | Contractor | Contract Sum (GY$) |
| 1. | Lot 89-Rehabilitation/ Construction of Cane Grove – Phase 3 (Region 4)
|
Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc. | $117,447,275 |
| 2. | Lot 90- Construction of No. 58 Village Road, Corentyne Berbice, (Region 6)
|
Guyamerica Construction Inc. | $640,713,500 |
| 3. | Lot 91- Construction of Road, No. 52 Village Corentyne Berbice,
(Region 6)
|
Associated Construction Inc. | $239,732,000 |
| 4. | Lot 96 – Maintenance of Mara Access Road, E.B.B, (Region 6) (A)
|
Shaffeeullah Sawmill | $34,840,890 |
| 5. | Lot 97- Maintenance of Mara Access Road, E.B.B, (Region 6) (B)
|
Kascon Engineering Services | $27,919,000 |
| 6. | Construction of Moleson Creek to El Dorado Road, (Region 6)
|
Shaffeeullah Sawmill | $151,227,000 |
| 7. | Lot 13- Rehabilitation of Itabali to Puruni Road (Phase 2 – Itabali to to Takatu) (Region 7)
|
RIM Construction Inc. | $176, 615, 040 |
| 8. | Lot 14- Rehabilitation of Bartica Potaro Road (Mile 6-19) (Region 7)
|
Adamatium Holdings | $77,311,641 |
