Home News Govt ensuring infrastructure works on par with int’l standards by hiring best...
In keeping with the Government’s commitment to ensure that Guyana’s infrastructural landscape is on par with international standards, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said his administration will continue to acquire the services of the best supervisory and consultancy firms around the globe.
According to the Head of State, the government has a new, well-thought-out, and carefully articulated plan for Guyana that requires a higher level of expertise.
He made this revelation on Wednesday during the signing ceremony for the reconstruction of the US$161 million Linden-Soesdyke Highway, where it was announced that international consultant, Absheek Engineering of Kuwait and C.B. & Associates Inc. will monitor the progress of the project to ensure it stays on track with little to no delays. That contract totals some US$1.7 million.
“Today we have the most diversified portfolio of investors in the region, we have the most diversified portfolio of lenders in the region, we have the most diversified portfolio of project financing in the region, we have the most diversified project managers, construction company, and consultants in the region. That tells you that we’re the eye of the storm, we are the eye of the region and the globe is looking at us and they’re coming,” the President articulated.
Against this backdrop, the Guyanese leader highlighted that by the time his government is finished, Guyana’s economy will be the most advanced, most diversified, and most integrated one with its urban and regional planning as the best in the hemisphere.
On the other hand, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill shared similar sentiments, noting that the administration’s move to hire the best supervisory and consultancy firms is aimed at ensuring the nation gets value for money.
“When we are spending government’s money apart from the skills that are there locally, the engineers and the project management people at the Ministry of Public Works – the government has safeguarded the people’s monies by ensuring we bring in international companies to supervise and to do the necessary things to ensure we get high-quality work and value for money in all of our projects in Guyana,” Edghill related.
Several ongoing infrastructural projects in Guyana are currently being managed by international firms, including the US$260 million new Demerara River Bridge which is being supervised by Italian firm Politecnica.
Additionally, the US$192 million Phase II of the East Coast Road Project an extension of the Railway Embankment Road into four lanes from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, extension of the main East Coast Roadway from Orange Nassau to Mahaica is being supervised by West Indian firm Beston Consulting Incorporated.
Further, the US$75.8 million East Bank Demerara (EBD) Road improvement project, spanning from Good Success to Timehri, is being supervised by Sheladia Associates, Incorporated. According to Minister Edghill, these companies were selected to oversee projects due to their outstanding portfolios, technical knowledge, and commitment to producing high-quality work. (G-1)
