Sanctions recommended for contractor for shabby works

Regional health centre

Concerns over the construction of the Supply Health Centre, including shoddy work by the contractor, has caused Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Chairman Genevieve Allen to step in and order a full investigation into the matter.
The move was sparked after Councillors on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) recommended sanctions against the contractor, Navin and Sons, at a recent meeting. According to the region’s Public Relations arm, it was pointed out that the contractor has multiple contracts in the region and thus, those projects could also have issues.
“As such, several Councillors unanimously requested for action to be taken against the contractor, noting that to allow such a misstep to slide, would be sending the wrong message and setting the wrong precedent as well.”
“This was supported by several Councillors, with Councillor Suresh Singh reiterating that he had brought this very issue about contractors doing as they like with little or no proper supervision. Therefore, several Councillors said that they firmly believe that action should be taken against the errant contractor.”
Allen then called for a vote on whether action should be taken immediately or if a separate investigation should be done. It was unanimously agreed that an independent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) should be conducted by the Works Committee.
At the meeting, Regional Vice Chairman Earl Lambert also stressed that the tree stump at Supply has to be removed regardless of whether a stress test was done. He also expressed concern about connections between the contractor and the supervisor of the project.
He acknowledged that Senior Engineer at the RDC, Elon Austin, who had reported that while a decision is yet to be made on continuing works, a test by the Public Infrastructure Ministry had found that the flooring was of acceptable quality.
“We know what the stress test is saying but the reality is that the very root has to be removed as in years to come that tree root, if not removed, can certainly affect the structure of that building and we may see the root breaking up the flooring, so certainly there is need for action against this contractor and any other who may have erred,” Lambert said.
“We are spending monies to put up a structure and later on it would start cracking. The contractor at Eccles he was told to remove the zinc sheets because the zinc sheets was not the correct one that was part of the contract and up to now he can’t remove it. The thing is that yes we want to give people work but if you are serious, you have to start operating like you’re serious.”
The Vice Chairman noted that several contractors seem to be more interested in winning contracts than delivering quality work for taxpayers’ money. He also stressed that the region needs to take the required action against contractors who continue to deliver poor quality work in order to ensure that there are not repeat offenders.
“You can’t give one man five contracts and all he is trying to do is to push the work and giving us substandard work and tomorrow he walks away and we are forced to spend monies to correct something that should have been new. I believe there should be action taken against this contractor and I support the call for action,” Lambert declared.
Meanwhile, Councillor Desmond Morian endorsed the call for a full investigation. He noted that the time has come for serious action rather than mere lip service. Morian told Councillors that he fully endorsed the call for an investigation and also declared that the findings should be made public.
In addition, he observed that appropriate action should be taken against those found guilty of any activity that is deemed unacceptable and or inappropriate. Allen thereafter promised to commission a special meeting shortly to commence the investigation.
Concerns over quality of the work, and the actions of the contractor in question, recently brought the construction of the Supply Health Centre to a screeching halt after the intervention of Region Four authorities.
At the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) monthly meeting last month, Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Four, Pauline Lucas, had revealed that the contractor was ordered by the Clerk of Works to not proceed with casting the foundation of the Centre. This cease work order was reportedly ignored.
According to a report that was submitted by the Clerk of Works, the contractor had failed to comply with a number of requirements for the project. Among the requirements ignored by the contractor was one for the complete removal of tree roots and debris from the site.
The REO had revealed that the casting of the flooring was found to have been done without removing a major tree stump. This, she noted, places the strength and quality of the building in serious question.