Edghill warns contractors of contractual obligations

Region 5 sea defence breaches
– says no excuses should delay timely implementation

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Saturday inspected the seven-kilometre stretch in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) where works are ongoing to fix several breaches on the sea defence.

During the visit, Minister Edghill walked the various stretches where works are being undertaken along the Dantzig to Content, Mahaicony area, East Coast Demerara.
Currently, there are five contractors – Toolsie Persaud Quarries Inc; A & S General Contracting Inc; M & B Construction; BK International Inc and Colin Talbot Contracting Services – that are executing the works in at various sections.
They were engaged by Edghill during a site inspection where it was reminded that BK international Inc and A & S General Contracting Inc were engaged to undertake emergency works since June 2020 under the previous APNU/AFC Administration. Additional contractors had to be brought on to have the breaches repaired.
At every site, Edghill reiterated Government’s expectation of the works being undertaken.
He emphasised that there should be nothing less than timely implementation and high quality and efficiency work especially since significant sums are being expended on these works.

While recognising the difficult terrain and sometimes harsh weather conditions, the Minister noted that the contractors, at the time of tendering, all indicated that they possess the capacity and ability to do the work. To this end, he posited that excuses and explanations will not prevent enforcement of contractual obligations they have signed onto.
Moreover, Edghill further pointed out that even as they carry out these works at the same time, they should ensure that adequate measures are being put in place to prevent flooding and to safeguard livelihoods of residents in those areas.
This is especially in light of the expected high tides in another two weeks’ time and then the anticipated higher tides closer to the Diwali festival
During the site visit, the Public Works Minister was accompanied by Region Five Vice Chairman, Rion Peters; Regional Executive Officer, Genevieve Blackman; Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad; Project Engineer, Stephen Nascimento, and District Engineer, Kenneth Hamer, who have all been advised that monitoring of this project must take a high priority.
In addition, Edghill also took the opportunity to visit two sites where mud is being dug and supplied to contractors for works being undertaken.
Back in August, residents of Dantzig in Mahaicony had experienced a bout of flooding after another section of the sea defence there were breached.
This came on the heels of another breach in July that resulted in thousands of acres of rice and pasture lands as well as households being flooded with water from the ocean. That breach was initially 200 metres but due to delayed response, the breach extended to five kilometres.
In October 2019, the Dantzig area had experienced its first bout of flooding from the sea defence breach that affected both the residential and farming communities.
Farmland between Planters Hall and DeHoop became barren and remain that way. Cash crop, rice and cattle farmers were all thrown out of business.
Since then, hundreds of farmers would have lost business as a result of being unable to cultivate their lands due to it being flooded with saltwater from the ocean.
Just two weeks ago, the Region Five Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had empoldered sections of land close to breached sea defences in several villages and this was effective in preventing flooding amid the spring tides.
Days later, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha held a community meeting in Dantzig, where he assured residents of Government’s commitment to assist farmers. He recognised the losses they have incurred due to the flooding and committed to seeking guidance on the matter.
“We all know that saltwater can be quite damaging to one’s farm and so I cannot promise you anything as a Minister because there needs to be some technical testing to find out whether you can continue to farm in this area in the future. So my technical team will be [here]… to do so and then I can make a decision on our step forward,” the Minister had said.