Substandard works not accepted in Region’s schools – Region 10 Chairman

…says errant contractors could face sanctions

At a recent meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), Renis Morian, harshly criticised members of the Regional Department of Works for what he described as “substandard” materials being used to construct schools.
He threatened sanctions and suspensions against those guilty of allowing such materials to be used, particularly in areas such as school washrooms across the Region.

Region 10  Chairman Renis Morian
Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

According to Morian, the cheapest materials are being utilized, and this will have a negative effect on the longevity of the constructions.
“The materials that they’re using in schools is substandard…I am prepared, at the level of the RDC, to call for the removal of some people in the Works Department if I go and see (those materials) in place. Because, (they are using) the cheapest materials… putting (them) in those washrooms in schools…At a school which got 200 people, you putting the cheapest (materials). Something is wrong…I am holding the Clerk of Council’s office, the Works Office (responsible)…We don’t want substandard fittings in the schools”, Morian declared.
He said, too, that in many instances these works have been “passed” following inspection. As a way of solving the issue, the Regional Chairman said what should be noted on the Scope of Works for these jobs is that the RDC is looking for the “best quality” items to be used.
“You got the washrooms. When you check, it’s the worst (materials) they putting there… And people leaving here to go and ‘pass’ (those) work. They want jailing! Everybody deh pon a money heights…
“So I giving notice that I gon bring it to this Council, and we gon call for sanctions. Once we go out there as Works Committee and see them works, the people from the Works Department who go and pass them jobs, I gon ask the REO to suspend the Standing Order, and they got to explain to this Council why them works happen under their watch”, Morian declared.
He also stated that in many instances children are left without water to drink, because pipes are malfunctioning at a fast rate due to the quality of items used. At a previous meeting, the Regional Chairman declared that there should be no substandard work in schools this year, and stressed that the RDC would not be utilising substandard products as part of schools’ infrastructure.