The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday signed $760 million in contracts for the security sector, including for the construction of several police command centres and living quarters for the Guyana Prison Service.
The largest contract was inked with Angloco – an international firefighting manufacturing company – for the procurement of five firefighting vehicles to the tune of $316.6 million.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, during brief remarks, said the contracts will help rebuild the agencies that fall under the ministry – the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and Guyana Fire Service.
“These are the first of several [contracts] in respect to the particular institutions which we are signing today.
“I want to encourage the successful companies, contracting companies and others who would be providing the work for the facilities and the assets which we are acquiring here, we want our projects to be delivered on time, on specification and on quality and we want our workers to be maintained and supported in a safe manner, we don’t want industrial accidents,” Minister Benn related.
He noted works are still ongoing for projects which started last year. He noted, however, that the ministry is “fairly satisfied” with the works, particularly since the contractors were faced with challenges such as the COVID pandemic.
“Given those challenges we are fairly satisfied with as much that can be done under the circumstances to advance those projects,” Minister Benn said.
In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) the contract was awarded to NK Engineering Service at a cost of $32.4 million.
In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), ACE Construction Service and Investment was awarded $41.7 million for the project. In Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne), Brick and Mortar Construction Service was awarded $21.1 million and in Region Ten (Upper Demerara – Berbice) Ele’s Trading and Hardware was awarded $34.1 million.
A total of $145 million in two contracts was inked with the Guyana Prison Service.
Singh and Son Construction was awarded $96.2 million for the construction of senior prison officer’s living quarters at the Lusignan Prison, while the $48.8 million contract for the security fence at Lusignan was awarded to Advanced Engineering.
The Guyana Fire Service inked $485.6 million in contracts.
AYN Construction was awarded $69 million for the construction of a new fire station at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara.
Comprass Industrial Service signed the $99.9 million contract for the procurement of 148 fire hydrants.
