Cemetery Road project: MoPW to consult AG Chambers after contractor fails to meet deadline twice

…Govt mulls taking over project – Edghill

The Ministry of Public Works (MoPW ) will be consulting with the Attorney General Chambers after Avinash Construction and Metal Works failed several times to make progress on the Cemetery Road project.
Back in April, the Government terminated the contract of Kalco Guyana Inc after it failed to complete Lot 8 B of the Conversation Tree to Dennis Street road project. During an inspection on March 4, it was revealed work on the project had come to a complete halt despite the initial project deadline being set for November 5, 2023.
Nevertheless, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had stated that despite a few delays in the Cemetery Road project, which was likewise inspected, the contractor would get to keep the contract despite not reaching the July 2023 deadline and also the revised deadline of March 31, 2024.
According to Edghill, the Government’s evaluators decided against terminating the contract with Avinash Construction and Metal Works since the company has significantly advanced works.

Nevertheless, he said the Government would pursue liquidated damages from the contractor for the delays suffered in the execution of the contract.
The $475 million project will see the two-lane carriageway being extended into four lanes. When completed, it is expected to significantly alleviate traffic congestion.
Now, the Ministry has stated that the contractor continues to move at a slow pace, which has so far resulted in the period for completion of the project being extended twice.
Edghill, during a recent community meeting with residents of Roxanne Burnham Gardens and surrounding communities of South Georgetown, noted that he would soon be consulting with the Attorney General on the way forward.

“I am saying it here loud and clear; we will not allow that contractor to continue to frustrate the people of East and West Ruimveldt. We will have to take over the project and we will finish Cemetery Road,” the Minister stressed.
During an inspection earlier in the year, Minister Edghill had noted that if the road was not completed by the adjusted period, then the contract would be terminated and given to a contractor of the Ministry’s Special Project Unit.
As such, he has since assured the residents that within the next two months, the thoroughfare will be officially completed.
“By September when school reopens, four lanes of traffic must be flowing in Cemetery Road. And that is the commitment that we are giving to you,” Minister Edghill promised.
Currently, the road is being used as a two-lane roadway. Upon completion of the four lanes, the road is expected to decrease the traffic woes that occur during peak hours.
In April, the Government announced that it was moving to terminate the $830 million contract with Kalco after the company “did not live up to expectations”.
Edghill and his team had met with the Trinidadian company to iron out the conditions of the termination, including liquidated damages.