– contractors urged to adhere to local content ethos
Some $366 million in contracts for the rehabilitation of roads in several communities in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) were on Tuesday signed, with Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar warning contractors to adhere to the local content ethos.
Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar (centre) flanked by the representatives of various contractors
The contracts awarded are for works on roads in Zeelugt, Naamryck, Bendorff, Uitvlugt and Blankenburg, Region Three. According to the Ministry, the works which were awarded by open tender will be performed in seven lots.
Among the roads to be rehabilitated are the roads at Phase 2, New Zeelugt Housing Scheme, Naamless to Bendorff, Parika, Naamryck Access Road to Loading Facility, the entrance to Boodhoo Scheme, Blankenburg and Fourth Street, New Housing Scheme, Uitvlugt.
“The estimated duration of the contracts awarded are three to eight months. Minister Deodat Indar encouraged the contractors to utilise labour resources and services within the respective communities, as these works will benefit thousands of residents. The PPP/C [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] Government is committed towards working with every community to ensure their infrastructure is improved,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Besides Minister Indar, those present included Head of the Procurement and Contract Department, Andy Mahadeo; Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Three, Jagnarine Somwar; Regional Chairman Ishan Ayube; Chairman of Tuschen/Uitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Ramzan Ali, Chairman of Mora/Parika NDC, Jaideo Sookhoo, and representatives of the contractors.
Minister Indar’s urging contractors to keep local content in mind when sourcing labour and services was in line with the PPP/C Government’s endeavour to make sure local content extended beyond the oil and gas sector.
It was only a few days ago that President Dr Irfaan Ali had reassured that the people of Guyana would also benefit from the opportunities that would become available as the country continued to develop. He had pointed out that local content should not just cover the petroleum sector.
“For me, local content is not only about oil and gas. With the massive transformation and the infrastructure projects that will come in place, we need local content there too,” President Ali had told reporters on the sidelines of a recent event at State House.
After assuming office in August last year, President Ali established a High-Level Local Content Panel to review policy initiatives on local content in the petroleum sector and to provide guidance for the development of Guyana’s Local Content Policy and legislation. The end product was a list of recommendations and subsequently, a draft Local Content Policy that the Government had released in February of this year.
The stakeholders’ consultation on Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy for its petroleum sector started in February and President Dr Ali himself opened the discussions from which authorities were expected to receive feedback and comments for the finalisation of the critical document.
Approximately 140 stakeholders were ultimately engaged by the panel on the compilation of the report. The report outlines several recommendations to improve the country’s policies and legislation.
Government is likely to hire experts to examine and incorporate comments and suggestions emanating from these stakeholder consultations into the final policy document that will be presented in the National Assembly.
