BK contract for Good Hope Secondary School terminated:

Citing unfulfilled contractual agreements, government last week terminated with immediate effect the contract with BK International for the construction of the US$4 million Good Hope Secondary School and also notified that it would be taking court action. “You are hereby notified that the Government of Guyana/ Ministry of Education, by this letter, terminates with immediate effect the contract executed on 1st October, 2018 for the construction of a General Secondary School, Lot 2 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara in accordance with the General Conditions of the contract, on the grounds of fundamental breach of the conditions stipulated in the Contract, which includes but are not limited to failing to maintain a security, as required and inordinate delay,” the letter, signed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC, stated. “The Government of Guyana intends to institute legal proceedings against BK

International Inc. to enforce all the provisions of the said contract and shall claim compensation and liquidated damages for the breaches thereof occasioned,” it added. The contract for the project was signed in October of 2018 with the project estimated to cost US$4,082,506.80. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education has been instructed to take possession of the site immediately, according to the letter. According to the Ministry of Education, the school, which is currently under construction, should have been completed since January 2020 following the contract award in 2018. The Ministry wants to have the school ready for the new school year which begins in September 2021. While government last week notified that it had settled with Courtney Benn Contracting for similar infractions, Nandlall defended the decision, saying that BK’s termination and pending litigation could not be compared to the settlement government has with Courtney Benn, as that company’s principal requested a settlement and showed just cause why he should be granted it, unlike BK’s Brian Tiwarie.