Contractor removes sand from Kennard Memorial Turf Club for sea defence
By Andrew Carmichael
President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, Justice Cecil Kennard has expressed concerns over the
The road leading to the race track is impassable to vehicular traffic
destruction of the race track at Bush Lot by a contractor who was contracted by government to build the sea defence.
Toolsie Persaud Ltd had been awarded a contract to rehabilitate the sea defense at Bush Lot/Madia, Corentyne.
According to Kennard, in the process of executing the project, the contractor damaged the roadway leading to the complex making it almost impossible for vehicular traffic to traverse, destroyed sections of the car park, broke rails around the race track and also on the race track.
The club’s President explained that, the contractor used the roadway leading to the complex to get his heavy duty machinery into the work site and also to take materials to the work site.
This he said destroyed the road leading to the arena. The actions also destroyed sections of the car park situated beyond the gates.
More worrying Kennard explained, is the fact that the contractor dug sand from the tract to build the sea defence. Two and a half furlongs, two meters deep at thirty feet wide of sand was removed from the track and used the rehabilitate the sea defence Kennard said. He estimated the cost to repair the damage to be at $2M.
In order the get to the race track, Kennard said he is of the belief that the contractor broke rails from a section of track. These he said are for security purposes. These damages are estimated at $1M
In a letter dated May 5, to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, and titled ‘Rehabilitation of sea defence at Bush Lot/Madia Corentyne,’ Kennard expressed frustration and disgust.
“As you are aware Toolsie Persaud has been given the contract for the rehabilitation of the above referred work.
We of Kennard Memorial Turf Club have given maximum cooperation to the contractor by giving free access to the road leading to the race track and sea defence work, the race track, our car park and we also provided a house free of cost (including light and water) for employees of Toolsie Persaud Ltd in order that the work would have been expedited,” the letter said in part.
The project took more that 18-months. Kennard is seeking the intervention on the Public Infrastructure Ministry to have the matter resolved.
Engineer attached to Toolsie Persaud Ltd. Romeo Ramscindo has since met with the club and has promised to repair the damages.
However, Kennard say the destruction to Guyana’s premiere horse race track, has caused the postponement of race meetings and loss of revenue.
He is hoping that it will be fixed for the next scheduled meet billed for August 28 this year.
