The Ministry of Public Works on Tuesday signed more than $300M in contracts aimed at improving roads and drains in the communities of Beterverwagting, Vryheid’s Lust, Triumph and Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara.
The contracts were signed at Plaisance in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.
It is in keeping with commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a walk about in several communities along the East Coast of Demerara during last week.
In his address ahead of the contract signing, explained that the contracts for the drainage works will be carried out in two aspects.
The first aspect, Indar said, will be awarded to members of the communities to the tune of $22M. They will be tasked with desilting drains.
“Those contracts going to the residents – people in the community to do the work in the community; and I expect….that you would hire people from the community…So don’t go bring people from all over the place to clean the community,” Indar said.
The other component of the project, which will see the cleaning of “big” drains, has been divided into 13 lots and will be undertaken by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
“They will clean the big canals in Plaisance, in BV (Beterverwagting) and in Triumph with big excavators and so,” Indar added.
In addition, Indar said road works amounting to $302M will be done in the communities.
“We have here about 23 lots for roads. If it’s a long road we will put it to a place where the community will able to participate because…for you to get this (project) you have to have your registration, NIS (National Insurance Scheme) and your GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) compliance,” he explained.
Indar urged the contractors against the delivery of shoddy works.
“We don’t want nobody to dig up people place and can’t find material. If you know you going to scarify the road to do the base, to do the sanding and cement, make sure you have your cement and your ransom and you water and so,” he warned.
Soon, another set of contracts, valued at $423 million, will be awarded for the construction of the Victoria access road and the Beterverwagting main road.