New works by CHEC on CJIA to be completed by June

…as Govt working to resolve shipping delays for Sheriff-Mandela traffic lights

The new works embarked on by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are on course for completion by June of this year, an eventuality that will bring an end to one of the most contentious infrastructure projects in recent memory.

During a press conference on Monday attended by a number of Public Works Ministry agency heads, CJIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir explained that the new work being done by CHEC, which includes the corridor, superstructure and curtain wall, is 54 per cent completed.
Last year, a $513.3 million contract was also signed with construction company CALCO for the construction of a new building attached to CJIA’s terminal building which will house a conference room, offices for the airlines and the other support agencies as well as storage bonds for the duty-free shops and concessionaires.
“The works by China Harbour is expected to be completed by June of this year. The work being done by CALCO, that is the new office building and rehabilitation of the airline offices, is 6 per cent completed,” Ghir explained.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill meanwhile fielded questions on funding for the airbridges at the CJIA expansion project. Last year, Total Solutions was awarded a $400 million contract for the supply of two air bridges for the CJIA expansion project. Edghill explained that these funds are Government monies.
“The airbridges are being funded by the Government of Guyana and that is as a result of the agreement made with the APNU/AFC, when they ended up with two airbridges and then we had to get a supplementary from the Parliament, Government of Guyana, to buy the other two.”
“So, while we’re getting the Chinese to put in the corridor, the other two make six that’s funded by the Government of Guyana. And the contracts for those have been awarded already,” Edghill said.

Sheriff-Mandela
Another contentious project nearing a completion is the Sheriff-Mandela road expansion. Describing it as a disaster when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government took office, Edghill said that the project has come a long way. In fact, he said the project is substantially complete – barring road markings and the installation of traffic lights that have been beset by shipping problems.
“The Sheriff-Mandela project was a disaster when we took it. I couldn’t find a better word to put it. A disaster. With leadership and policy direction, we were able to get it to where it is. My last visit, they were putting up street lights. That has been completed. The entire highway is completed. The guard rails that were started are now completed.”
“We have to see in place now the completion of the road markings, which is ongoing. The putting in of the traffic signs and installation of the traffic lights. This morning I had a meeting with the contractor, because the traffic lights are experiencing shipping problems and we tried to move every mountain to get them here. Because we had indicated that by February 14, we want to get this highway, with all of its components, completed. And we’re still working towards that,” Edghill said.
According to Edghill, the PPP Government was able to impart on the contractor – Sinohydro Corporation Limited – the importance of the project and need for adhering to deadlines, ensuring that the project could move from where it was to where it is now, in just 14 months.
“I have seen the positive comments, about how people got around and were able to move. The comments about abortion road. All of that has disappeared. Now we just got to get people to slow down and observe the speed limits. And as you can see, very soon with the four-lane coming through Eccles to Mandela and the almost completed roundabout, we’ll be making movement of people, goods and services, easier for Guyanese.”
The road upgrade project is being funded through a US$66 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Work on the Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue project began in August 2018 by Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Limited.
However, there was a period in 2019 when the IDB had halted funding for the project owing to health and safety violations by the contractor. The matter was further compounded by the 2020 election impasse, but following the return to office of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, the IDB was re-engaged.
The Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue roadway is considered the only direct link between the heavily populated East Coast Demerara and East Bank Demerara.

orking to resolve shipping delays for Sheriff-Mandela traffic lights