Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal has assured residents of Newtown, Kitty, Georgetown, that the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is doing all it can to speed up works and relieve them of the inconvenience they have been experiencing, caused by pipe-laying works.
The Minister along with GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh and Director of Projects Aubrey Roberts visited the site at Republic, DaSilva and Lamaha Streets to inspect the status of works being done.
Minister Croal noted that residents have expressed the discomfort they have been experiencing due to the length of time the project is taking to complete. As such, he emphasised that the history and initiation of the project is important, since this is what led to the prolonged delay and inconvenience meted out to residents in the project area.
GWI Director of Projects explaining the works that are being done to Minister Collin Croal
Croal recalled that the contract for the Vlissengen Road pipe-laying project was signed on November 30, 2017, with eight requests for payment by the previous contractor – Barnes – totalling $114 million.
However, only 11 per cent of works have been completed, equivalent to some $39 million. As such, the PPP/C Administration inherited the below par works and the challenges surrounding it. The matter is presently engaging the attention of the courts.
The Minister apologised for the inconveniences caused and thanked residents for their patience to date, adding that upon completion, they will benefit from improved quality of water and level of service, as well as better roads.
On the other hand, Baksh stated that GWI has stood the expense outside of the contract sum to replace culverts in the area and the utility company will be writing to the Town Clerk of City Council to desilt the drains.
Meanwhile, the Projects Director anticipates that the work will take another 4-6 weeks for completion.
Minister Croal and GWI CEO Shaik Baksh engaging residents of Newtown on Sunday
The remainder of works include the installation of 4-inch lines along Vlissengen Road, between Garnett and Duncan Streets, pressure testing of the pipes, reinstating the roads and the interconnection of lines.
Residents who met with the team during the visit expressed gratitude for the interest shown in seeing the works to completion and welcomed the improved service and roads expected at the end of the project.
