$400M airbridge contract: Total Solutions representing Chinese supplier of airbridges – Edghill

− defends Govt contract with company against APNU/AFC “propaganda”

The Government is pushing back against A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) attacks on Total Solutions, the company awarded the contract for the supply of two air bridges for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project.

The company was awarded the GY$400 million contract earlier this month. However, members of the previous Government have questioned the contract and the credentials of the company.
According to Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill on Sunday, the Opposition is making a mountain out of a molehill since Total Solutions is a reputable company that the supplier of the airbridges, China International Marine Containers (CIMC), directed them to.

“We went directly to the supplier for the purchase of the airbridges, CIMC. CIMC have supplied more than 7000 airbridges to more than 300 airports, including to the USA, Canada, Chile and other parts of the region.”
“Their local representatives, who they redirected us to when we went to them, is Total Solutions. That is where we will get the after-sale services and all the things required to keep the airport and airbridges functional,” Edghill further explained.
According to Edghill, the money for the airbridges was budgeted for in the 2021 budget. He therefore questioned why the Opposition was unaware of that. Edghill also pointed out that the airbridges APNU/AFC procured during their time in office are in fact of poor quality. He said that the airbridges periodically break down and in one case, they had to cannibalise one airbridge to get parts for another.
“The issue they’re seeking to make into a big issue is the signing of the contracts for the two additional airbridges. When we paid $150 million in the agreement, we were expecting to have eight airbridges. When APNU/AFC went into office and remodelled the contract and reduced the scope, we ended up with four airbridges.”
“Two were paid for by China Harbour. And they came back to Parliament for a supplementary to pay for the additional two. So apart from that, they increased the contract amount by over $300 million for the additional airbridges. So, we had to approve that in Parliament. The excuse they gave at the time is that the contract did not provide for airbridges.”
Edghill explained that after the PPP returned to office in 2020 and came to an agreement with CHEC for the additional works, one of the things the Chinese company agreed to was to build the corridor that would facilitate two additional airbridges.
“We, as a Government, have to provide the two bridges to adjoin to those corridors to facilitate us moving to six airbridges. I don’t know where (APNU/AFC) got the impression that China Harbour was supposed to provide the airbridges. There was never any confusion in our mind. APNU/AFC agreed that any additional airbridges besides the two that China Harbour put in, would have to be paid for by the Government of Guyana.”
Earlier this month, a contract for US$2 million was signed with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). It will aid in the completion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion, with the procurement of two air bridges.
When the air bridges arrive, it means CJIA will have six passenger boarding bridges. The extended corridor is part of the US$9 million in extra work China Harbour Engineering agreed to do.
Based on the Government’s agreement with the Chinese contractor, the expansion works are expected to be completed by this year end.
The Public Works Ministry had entered into an agreement with CHEC back in December, which would see the contractor doing US$9 million in additional works to further extend the airport at no cost to the State.
The new works involve an extension of the airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate the two passenger boarding bridges, providing the airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, the Airbus and similar trans-Atlantic aircraft.
It would also see the terminal building being extended to provide accommodation for additional commercial space, such as food courts and duty-free shops. The extended building will feature a modern airport façade covering the full length of the departure terminal.