− Ministries called upon to expedite work
Government on Tuesday gave its no objection to several contracts totalling billions of dollars in various sectors, a move which Minister of State Joseph Harmon said had to be taken to ensure work of the various ministries are streamlined.
Tuesday’s sitting of Cabinet saw Government looking into important works, Harmon noted, adding that the spending for the year and award of contracts had not been very good.
Earlier in the year when an assessment was done on spending and public infrastructure projects, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had indicated that the percentage was unsatisfactory and that all of the government ministries needed to expedite their work to ensure that they are able to satisfy their requirements.
According to Harmon at the Post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, the issue was compounded with the lack of a Public Procurement Commission, which he said has been slowing down operations. The Minister of State added that contracts had to go to the National Tender Board Administration (NBTA), then back to Cabinet, before being handed out, thereby delaying the process.
“Those are issues we are now refining, we have now gotten it better and with the introduction of the Public Procurement Commission, some of these steps will be taken out to be much better,” Harmon stated.
Meanwhile, Cabinet gave its no objection to a contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of miscellaneous roads in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The rehabilitation and construction of Morris Street, Good Hope, Essequibo for $22.1 million was awarded to Mohammed Fawaz Bacchus Construction and the rehabilitation and construction of an Eastern last street in Charity, Essequibo Housing Scheme for the sum of $18.2 million, awarded to Y.BholaConstruction Services.
Additionally, Cabinet also gave its no objection to the construction of the KuruKururu main road in RegionFour (Demerara-Mahaica) for the sum of $67.3 million. The contract was awarded to KhemrajNauth Constructing.
No objection given to the construction and rehabilitation of urban roads in Region Four, including‘D’Field main access road, Sophia, Georgetown, at the cost of $26.8 million, which was awarded to JR Construction and the rehabilitation of Pattensen(Turkeyen) Road network at a cost of $75.7 million. This contract was awarded to Handel Garnett.
A contract of $22.8 million was awarded to R&B Investments for the rehabilitation of the Guyhocmain access road.
Cabinet also gave its no objection to the construction of roads in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with repairs to the Four-Corner Junction at a cost of $16.1 million, which was awarded to BK International. The company also secured a second contract for the maintenance of Back Road Baidorado for the sum of $13.2 million.
Furthermore, a contract for the rehabilitation of the Linden Highway at $37 million was awarded to BardonConstruction Services.
The construction of groynesat Cullen on the Essequibo Coast at $23.5 million was awarded to Deodat Construction Firm.
Meanwhile, for the provision of designs and supervision service for the construction of a sluice at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara,a contract valued $18.75 million was awarded to SRKN Engineering. The rehabilitation of a concrete bridge at a cost of $60.5 millionwas awarded toAnurudhRamchamitarConstruction.
A $240.3 million contract for the rehabilitation of the Bartica Stelling was awarded to Courtney Benn Construction Services; while works on the Goods Wharf at Kingston, Georgetown, to the tune of $58.9 million was awarded to M. Sukhai Construction Service.
For the reconstruction of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Central Workshop and Administrative building at the cost of $47.9 million was awarded to Gupta Contracting.
Cabinet also consented to the rehabilitation of the Leonora Diagnostic Centre at a cost of $74. 4 million and awarded the contract to Builders Hardware Quality.
In addition, it approved the extension of the school building at the New Amsterdam School of Nursing,which will cost $25.5 million and was awarded to Doodnauth Contracting andSupplies. A second contract of $49.1 million was awarded to Beresford Harry for the construction of the nurses hostel in the town. Added to that is the construction of an outpatient building at the New Amsterdam Hospital at a cost of $15.9 million.
