Gov’t inks $104M in contracts with 63 small contractors for Reg. 2 D&I works

– 33% of the contractors are women; Gov’t lauds them for dedication to communities

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has signed $104 million in Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) contracts with small contractors in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam). Of particular note is that 21 of these contractors are women.
The signing ceremony was done on Monday. Based on the terms of the agreements signed with the 63 contractors, they will receive 50 per cent of their payment upon signing. Additionally, individual contract lots range from $1 million to over $2 million.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who was present at the signing, urged the contractors to put their best foot forward and deliver value for money. According to him, the Government’s focus is on upgrading drainage in all municipalities.

“Everyone in this room is aware, that the enemy of a road is water. Whether it’s a concrete or asphaltic concrete road. So, once we build roads and water is not running off, drains overflowing, it’s only a matter of time the road you just built, you’ll have to do it over again.”
“And like I said, we’ve been focusing on the drainage aspect. This year, the policy direction is that we address drainage in all the municipalities. And Anna Regina and the areas surrounding were allocated a lump sum of $100 million,” he also said.
According to Edghill, these contracts are likely to take a week at most, with efforts to expedite the work cutting down on the time even more. He noted that the Government’s aim by providing these contracts, is to ensure greater equity in the distribution of contracts. And he also lauded them for their selfless contributions to their communities.
“We decided that this work will not go to the regular contractors, who already had work. You know every time there is work, there are some people who believe they are entitled. And then some people come complaining that they didn’t get work…. Some of you are people in communities known to the leaders and already do some of these works,” Edghill also said.
“For example, when I went to Bartica to sign contracts, the first person who signed the contracts was a man who when Bartica was flooded the other day, went in the drain with his bare hands and took out the tyres blocking the drain… he was doing that voluntarily. And some people do that already because they live in communities, they see what’s going on and they come out. Sometimes they do it with no reward, but for the love of community and we thank you for that.”

Only a few days ago, the Government had awarded 52 contracts to the tune of $112 million for drainage and irrigation works in the mining town of Linden. Overseeing the contract signing on Friday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted that over the years, the Government has been investing heavily in drainage and irrigation infrastructure in the region.
While addressing the gathering, Mustapha explained the contracts will be executed in two phases representing a total investment of over $224 million for 2024. Amelia’s Ward Phase 3 Community Development Council (CDC), Buckville CDC, Burnham Drive CDC, Dalawalla CDC, Retrieve CDC, and 58 Miles CDC were among the groups that were awarded contracts for drainage and irrigation works in their respective areas.
Over the past four years, significant D&I works in Region 10 have seen an investment of $1.5 billion, enhancing farmer access to farmlands and reducing flooding. Some $320.1 million was spent in 2020, $297.7 million in 2021, $198.2 million in 2022, $226.5 million in 2023 and $552.7 million this year.
Notable projects encompass erosion control, excavation works, and the construction of a $38.5 million, 250-foot dam at Coomaka, alongside the ongoing assessment of the $40 million rehabilitation of the Coomacka Mines Flood Control Dam this year.
Additionally, $41.3 million was allocated for the construction of conservancy dams and the rehabilitation of D&I channels in West Watooka and Linden, while an investment of $116.2 million has been made for the construction of D&I structures in these areas. Furthermore, an annual expenditure of over $200 million was budgeted for the manual maintenance of drains creeks within the region.