Finish 2020 work before applying for 2021 – Public Works Minister

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill is calling on contractors who were issued contracts last year to complete those contracts before applying for contracts under the 2021 National Budget.
The Minister made the announcement while inspecting sea defence works between Numbers 59 and 63 Villages on the Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The works comprise a total of one kilometre, being done in two lots of 500 metres each.

The contract is being executed by A & S Contractors and was awarded in December last year. The project is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Edghill has expressed delight at the pace at which the project has been going when compared with similar contracts along coastal regions.
“This is good, because when this contract was awarded along with the other sea defence contracts in 2020, I met with all of the sea defence contractors and I told them to get on with the work,” Edghill said. Currently, sea defence work is ongoing at Cornelia Ida and Uitvlugt, both located on the West Coast of Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
“I think this is a good example that with good leadership and the drive, we can get things done,” the Public Works Minister told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Corentyne contract is being funded by Government to the tune of $444 million while a similar contract to reinforce the sea defence at Number 78, Corriverton is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). That project will entail the placing of boulders to make a rip-rap to protect 981 metres of vulnerable sea defence along the Upper Corentyne.

“I want to say to all other contractors, ‘follow the pattern of A & S on this one’. By no means should A & S take this to mean that they have reached the pinnacle and could relax on the others. This is the gold standard we want to see continuing; people take a job and work day and night. All of the contractors are aware – if you don’t finish your work from the 2020 budget, don’t even attempt bidding for projects in the 2021 budget,” Edghill declared.
The Minister noted that there was still much work left to be done to secure both sea and river defences in the country. “This is an important aspect of national development, because of the extensiveness and how low Guyana is,” Edghill said. (G4)