– as concerns expressed over safety, structural integrity
– contractor ignored previous cease work order
Concerns over the quality of the work and the actions of a contractor have brought the construction of the Supply Health Centre, East Bank Demerara to a screeching halt by Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) authorities.
Regional Executive Officer for Region Four, Pauline Lucas
The issue came up at the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) monthly meeting earlier this week. At the meeting, Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Four, Pauline Lucas, revealed several unsavoury details about the project.
According to the region’s Public Relations Department, one of the details she revealed is that the contractor, Navin and Sons, was ordered by the Clerk of Works to cease casting the foundation of the centre.
“However, the contractor ignored the directive and proceeded to cast the foundation while erecting columns within a day of casting the foundation, thus further fuelling grave concerns. He indicated that he was given approval to proceed by the engineer,” an official from the department revealed.
According to a report that was submitted by the Clerk of Works, the contractor 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.
But according to the REO, it was discovered that the casting of the flooring was done without the removal of a major tree stump. This, she noted, places the strength and quality of the building in serious question. Lucas has since summoned the engineer responsible for the project, to a meeting with regional officials.
“I held a meeting with our Senior Engineer Elon Austin, the contractor in question and the engineer and no plausible answers can be provided for the contractor actions. So I have written the Ministry of Communities asking for advice because the public’s health is of grave and pivotal importance. We cannot construct a building and in a few years’ time; it’s falling to pieces because there were several defective and poor works done,” she said.
“We as a region have a responsibility to the public because taxpayers’ money must and has to be spent properly, thus ensuring that they get value for money and under my watch I will continue to strive for that,” she declared, going on to express disappointment over the work she noted flouts basic construction related guidelines.
It is understood that with the halt of construction, an independent firm will be contracted to conduct testing of the foundation’s strength after a minimum of 28 days post-casting. It is these tests, she noted, which will ultimately determine if works can continue.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Geneviève Allen told the meeting that while she did not examine the report, she did realise that something was not right and therefore sought to have the REO explain in detail what transpired with regards to the Supply Health Centre.
“I saw both letters but didn’t get to go through them in detail including the report, but I am glad that the Clerk (REO) sought to explain it to this meeting so that you Councillors can better understand what is happening within the region and some of the challenges that the region faces while executing projects and programmes for the public,” Allen said.
Apart from having independent tests done, the REO also said she is awaiting instruction from the Communities Ministry, before proceeding on any particular course of action. She also lauded the vigilance of the Clerk of Works and credited their impromptu visits to ongoing projects in an impromptu manner with flagging the errors in the construction.
