Cleaning of canals in Region 6 Contractors sub-contracting work – Armogan

Several contractors, who had signed contracts with the Government to clean canals in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been employing the services of other companies (sub-contractors) to carry out the work.
This is according to Region Six Chairman David Armogan.
The Chairman made the disclosure while addressing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at a recent meeting.
“They’re not doing the work,” he told the RDC.
He was at the time responding to claims that some contractors have been using chemicals to kill weeds growing along the edges of the canals.
He pointed out that using chemicals in the waterways affects aquatic life and also farmers who depend on the waterways to irrigate their fields.
Additionally, Armogan said those who have been contracted to clean the road shoulders are not giving the Government value for its money.
“That is one of the things that I reported to the Minister and they are going to have a serious look at that because they don’t supervise the work. When I asked one of the workmen who he was working with, he called another man – not the contractor that we are dealing with.”
He said as it relates to that particular contract, the contractor is reportedly overseas.
“We are paying lots of money to have these placed well-kept and we are not getting value for money.”
According to Armogan, the standards have to be kept at all times.
“They have high heaps of grass on the banks of the road and they are not moving them. I have even seen some of them picking the grass up and putting them in bags and the bags are not being removed for weeks,” the Chairman pointed out.
Armogan called on Councillors to be vigilant and report to the regional administration, instances where contractors are not working in accordance with the regulations. This, he said, will allow the administration to take the necessary action.