Dear Editor,
Massive construction works are underway in all of the ten regions of Guyana. New roads, bridges and buildings — including hospitals, schools, stadiums, and even temples and mosques; not to mention hundreds of houses — are being built throughout the country, while some are being repaired. Since independence, almost 60 years ago on May 26, 1966, Guyana has never experienced a construction boom like what is taking place today. The economy is thriving at a rate of roughly 46 percent of GDP, which is the highest in the Caribbean and Latin America, and perhaps in the world. It is a phenomenon no one expected or could have predicted, but thanks must be given to the discovery and exploration of oil by ExxonMobil and the other oil giants of the world.
Today there are hundreds, if not thousands, of contractors that have received, and continue to receive, huge contracts from all different sources, including private individuals. But as fast as the roads are being built, cracks are appearing on many of them, some even before the job is completed; and although there are many reasons for such poor construction or substandard work, space would allow me to mention only a few of them.
One reason is that many of these contractors are not vetted properly. Two is that there are not enough qualified personnel to monitor the construction sites, which suggests that many contractors are the adjudicators of their own work. Three is what is rumoured: that some of these contractors are given contracts based on their connections and/or friendship with authoritative officials, which allows them to bypass the vetting system and ignore all regulations and standard operating procedures. Four is that many have little or no experience in building anything, not even a driveway or a bookshelf. And five is that some of us are fully aware that many of the bona-fide contractors with expertise and years of experience are being sidelined for an untold number of reasons.
The result is that more than 60 percent of these contractors are sub- contracting, which inevitably has led to substandard work being done, because the original contractors would syphon off 25 percent of the initial cost of the project.
Of all the hundreds or thousands of contractors currently registered in Guyana, only a few stand out as being among the best, and are better than all the others. Among the few is BK International Inc., which is perhaps the only contracting firm that can boast of having the equipment, experience, and expertise not only to build roads and construct buildings, but to meet and overcome any challenge in the construction industry.
With more than 40 years of experience, BK International has built hundreds of miles of roads, constructed several buildings, and erected miles of sea defences in Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice. Simply put, BK International has done it all.
As the first Major General of the Guyana Defence Force, Norman McLean, has said, “You name it, and BK will build it.”
BK International is second to none, and its capability is recognized in the Caribbean, Latin America, and elsewhere around the world, including in Canada and the United States. Its recent construction of the airport at Ogle is a marvel that has surpassed international standards. There is nothing similarly spectacular anywhere in Guyana, Suriname, the Caribbean, or Latin America.
And the person behind the planning, construction and development of this airport is none other than its visionary, ingenious and futurist Chairman Mr. Brian Tiwari; who is original, creative, ambitious and judicious. His most famous mantra, which everyone not only in the construction industry but the general public, should heed, is: Do not put all your eggs in one basket, but leave room just in case one door is closed; the chances are others will open.
Wise, affable and generous, Mr Tiwari is very genuine, down-to-earth and approachable.
Sincerely,
Dr Asquith Rose
