Safety breaches, delays will not be tolerated – Edghill warns bridge contractors

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has warned contractors awarded bridge construction contracts across Regions Two through Six that delays, poor site management, and breaches of safety requirements will not be tolerated.
Edghill issued the warning during a meeting with the contractors at the Public Works Ministry’s boardroom on Wednesday, where he was accompanied by Senior Engineers Sherod Parkinson and Colin Gittens.
The contractors were recently selected from a pool of more than 600 bidders for bridge construction projects in the regions.
The meeting focused on project execution, timelines, site safety, and communication between contractors and the ministry’s engineering team.
Edghill stressed the importance of maintaining good working relationships between contractors and supervising engineers, noting that the Ministry would provide support throughout the execution of the projects.
“We will hold your hands and show you the ropes as you execute the work,” Edghill said.
He added that strong supervisor-contractor relations would be necessary to prevent problems during construction.

Prioritise time management
Senior Engineer Parkinson also urged contractors to prioritise time management and work efficiently, while using the Ministry’s engineers for support when challenges arise.

“The ultimate objective is to get the work done within a timely manner so that we can present to the community something they are satisfied with,” Parkinson said.
He also encouraged contractors working in the same regions to maintain good relationships and collaborate when unforeseen site challenges affect project execution.
“We are now all on the same team. So, we might be working on different projects, but collaboration is important,” Parkinson said.
Gittens, meanwhile, reminded the contractors that they would be responsible for safety at their respective sites and stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with communities.
“You are responsible for that structure and everything around it… safety is not optional,” he said.
He also noted that positive relations with residents could help to resolve many of the challenges that may arise during construction.
Edghill subsequently issued specific instructions on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), warning contractors that workers must be properly equipped while on site.
“Our Guyanese seem to have an aversion to safety, so please ensure you enforce safety on your sites,” he said.
The Minister said he did not want to visit any project and find workers without the required safety gear or improperly attired while carrying out construction activities.
He also warned contractors against dismantling existing bridges before they have the materials necessary to complete the replacement structure.
“We don’t want complaints of contractors opening the bridges, driving only two piles, and then parking their machinery for months. That will not be accepted at all,” Edghill said.
He stressed that proper project management would be critical to minimising disruption to communities and ensuring that Government investments are delivered as planned.
Edghill further advised contractors that Ministry engineers would be available seven days a week to assist with project-related issues.
He established that any matter involving an engineer that remained unresolved for more than two weeks should be escalated directly to his office.
Individual site visits for the awarded projects are scheduled to take place in the coming days, with construction expected to commence immediately after contractors are shown their respective project locations.