$760M in contracts inked for Joint Services projects

Nine contracts, valued in excess of $760 million, were on Tuesday signed for the facilitation of developmental projects under various entities of the Home Affairs Ministry.

Contractors in the presence of Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn signed contracts for the 2022 capital projects, spanning works for the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Fire Service.
Representing the agencies were Deputy Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram, Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot and Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, respectively.
The works to be executed include four Command Operation Centres for Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). These four contracts are pegged at $129.5 million.
For the Guyana Prison Service, the construction of the senior officers’ living quarters and a security fence at the Lusignan Prison will be executed to the tune of $96 million and $48 million, respectively.
Further, contracts for a new fire station at Wales, the procurement of 148 fire hydrants and five firefighting vehicles to the tune of $485 million were sealed.
The companies involved with these projects are NK Engineering Services; ACE Construction Service and Investment; Brick and Mortar Construction Service; Ele’s Trading and Hardware; Singh and Son Construction; Advanced Engineering; AYN Construction; Compass Industrial Services; and ANGLOCO.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn pointed out that last year’s projects are still being executed and are moving apace. The new contracts signed are the first of several signed for these agencies, and he used the platform to insist that they be completed effectively, with a safe working environment for workers.
“I want to encourage the successful contracting companies, who will be providing the work for the facilities and the assets being acquired. I have to say that we want our projects to be delivered on time and specification and on quality. We want our workers, the people working on these projects to be maintained and supported in a safe manner.”
He added, “We don’t want industrial accidents. We want timely delivery. We want quality delivery…If I come and there is any person working with slippers and they don’t have gloves, eye protection and helmets, I will be upset. I’m saying that for everybody. We have to get good for us. A safe worker is an efficient worker once he is well-trained and supervised.”
Establishing a fire station in Wales, according to Benn, will be beneficial in light of massive developments that will come with the intended gas-to-shore project earmarked for that area. The new firefighting vehicles will be used to provide coverage not only in urban areas and on the coast but also to critical interior locations.
Contracting companies were also encouraged to facilitate apprentices on these projects, providing them with the skills to gain employment.
“There is scope in these contracts to bring in young people and train them up as apprentices…I would encourage that without impairing your overall efficiency and effectiveness,” the Home Affairs Minister told the operators.