$600M for road rehabilitation approved

…at least 100 roads to be fixed
The National Assembly on Tuesday approved $600 million in supplemental funding for road upgrades and construction, with Public Works Minister Juan Edghill revealing that the deplorable state of roads in Guyana is one of the major problems the Government inherited from the last administration.
During the sitting of the National Assembly, Edghill was asked about the $600 million allocation in financial paper # 2 of 2020. He explained that some of the monies sought will go towards paying the mobilisation advances for the contractors to begin work.
Edghill reminded the other side of the house, including his predecessor David Patterson, that when the Government entered office, it found the road network to be in need of urgent fixing. He noted that many Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) reached out for help with their roads.
“Since assuming office, one of the biggest issues that have affected the lives of people across the country is the deplorable state of their roads. The requests have been (coming). Region 10 requested my Ministry’s help with their roads. So, we have gone out, using the procurement process, to fix at least 100 roads,” he said.
According to Edghill, the contracts will either be awarded at the Ministerial or National Tender Board level, depending on the amount. The Minister explained that every region would receive attention from the Ministry for the initiative.
“In this emergency budget, where works were (approved) and undertaken, every single region is receiving attention from the Ministry of Public Works when it comes to the upgrade and rehabilitation of roads; without exception, in a non-discriminatory manner, through consultations with the NDCs and the RDCs,” he said.
“Roads have been selected as priority one and two. And these 100 roads that are being done are the priority ones requested by the communities. In 2021, we’ll have to come with a new tranche of roads. So, this $600 million is to accelerate services to ensure the livelihood of our Guyanese people are improved in a timely manner.”
Under questioning from A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Members of Parliament, the Minister gave examples of some of the roads that will see works being done from the $600 million allocation.
“In Region Three, rehabilitation of Koker Street and Charles Street in Parika. The road cost $77.3 million. The mobilization advance would be $15.4 million. Independence Street, the road cost $81.6 million,” the Minister revealed.
“We come to Region Four. Charlotte Street, Enterprise. The road cost $23 million. The mobilization advance would be $4.6 million. Region Five, rehabilitation of Mangrove Street in Cane Grove. The road cost $62 million, the mobilization advance is $12.4 million.”
The minister also was at pains to assure that all procurement laws would be adhered to. Additionally, he noted that contractors would be held to account, to deliver in keeping with their workplans, something the former government was repeatedly flagged for failing to ensure.
One stark example was the Hunter Street contract, for which a contractor signed an $86.6 million contract in 2019 but proved unable to complete the project. In fact, the Audit Office of Guyana had found that the Government rewarded the contractor’s missed deadlines and abandonment of the site with contract extensions.
“I can assure this honourable house that every financial transaction that will be done for the award of contracts of any nature by the PPP/c government will be in strict adherence to the law, Because we believe in good governance,” Minister Edghill explained. “We will not be awarding contracts and signing agreements after, as has been the case in the past. We will not be signing contracts and up until now the works have not been completed. I am currently fighting to get contracts that were signed on December 31, 2019 implemented in 2020. And some of the works have not yet been completed. Some of it, you can’t even find the contractor on the site.”
The 2019 Audit Report had raised a number of issues pertaining to lack of transparency and accountability at the Ministry. According to Edghill, he has instructed his Ministry to ensure that there is no repeat under his administration.