Contractors’ poor work a major concern for Region 1 Administration

Region One (Barima-Waini) Chairman Brentnol Ashley said that one of the challenges faced by the Regional Administration, as it strove to complete its 2016 capital works is the poor execution of projects by contractors.

During a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Ashley explained that the Regional Administration was currently assessing and evaluating projects across the region. Measures will be put in place to ensure that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Public Works Committee is more effective, he added.

In the 2016 Budget, the sum of $2.345 billion was approved for Region One, of which $35.446 million was earmarked for the rehabilitation of bridges at Hosororo, Papaya and Arocuro. A sum of $31 million was also allocated for the construction of roads in Mabaruma and Moruca.

The sum of $65.29 million was also allocated for the completion of living quarters at Port Kaituma and Santa Rosa, a sanitary block at Baramita Primary School, the construction of a secondary school at Waramuri and extension works to the nursery schools at Port Kaituma and Matthews Ridge.

In the area of health, $52.045 million was approved for the construction of a mortuary at Pakera, health posts at Powaikuru and Warapoka, an administrative building at Mabaruma, and the construction of health posts and living quarters at Katchikamo.

The Chairman said the Region was working to complete its 2016 capital works before the reading of Budget 2017. Ashley said that the Region’s 2017 Budget will see more roads, schools and health facilities being constructed and upgraded.

Under the previous Administration, the Auditor General’s Report 2011 revealed that a number of contractors executing road, bridge and revetment projects in Region One were overpaid, although the projects remained incomplete or, in some cases, never began. In several instances, no effort was made by the Regional Administration to recover the monies from the contractors. In 2016, those challenges remain, but, according to Ashley, the RDC will be collaborating with the Public Infrastructure Ministry to enforce a more aggressive monitoring and evaluation process so as to ensure value for money.