Public Works Ministry on track with 2021 work programme – Permanent Secretary

The Public Works Ministry is on track with its work programme, having already awarded all of the contracts for planned projects this year.

This was revealed by Public Works Ministry Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud, during the signing of three contracts on Wednesday for additional works to be carried out at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
He also revealed that most of the supplementary projects such as rehabilitation works to repair damage caused by the recent floods were also awarded.
“At this juncture, all of our programme work for 2021 has been awarded and the supplementary [projects] that were granted via Parliament, almost 80 per cent have been awarded and only a few are at the stage of evaluation. Within the next week, we should be awarding those remaining contracts,” Persaud said.
This, according to the Permanent Secretary, has placed the Ministry well on track regarding timelines for the implementation of its 2021 work programme.
On this note, Persaud cautioned contractors that the Public Works Ministry would not be lenient when it came to the deadlines of projects.
“We are very stringent with regards to timelines and it is no secret that our implementation is one that we take very seriously. We will be behind all of the respective contractors to ensure that their project implementation timelines are met and kept within agreed contract-signing,” he stressed.
Nevertheless, the Permanent Secretary further committed to work with contractors to ensure that the projects under the Ministry were implemented in a timely manner.
A sentiment that was shared by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who warned against making excuses for delays.
“…to all our agencies and contractors, including those engaged with our Works Services Group, let’s wake up and think every day – implementation. An excuse for me is the opportunity to do the same thing without feeling bad. So, I don’t make excuses, I see opportunities. We have rain days so when we get sun days, let’s do longer hours – day and night,” Edghill said on Wednesday.
The Public Works Minister went on to outline, “I frown very seriously on contracts once signed, contractors coming back with excuses that they have to get variants and different sums and so on. Anybody who would’ve engaged me since I’ve been Minister know that’s not something I take very lightly, because once you bid, you should have studied carefully what you are seeking to do and when you put a sum there and we have a signed contract for what you will do shortly, that we’re able to get that done within the frame that you have provided.”
The three contracts signed on Wednesday for additional works on the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are part of the Ministry’s work programme for this year. The contracts include the construction of a new building to be attached to the terminal building, repairs to the international apron and Runway Charlie, and the design of a new office building for the airport employees.
The Public Works Ministry received a whopping $40 billion from the $383.1 billion 2021 National Budget. In addition to this, the Ministry also received $2.6 billion in supplementary funds in June for repair works on the Demerara Harbour Bridge’s retractor span as well as to facilitate the upgrading of roads and drains in various communities, and urgent rehabilitation and upgrading of key access roads across the country.