Edghill puts Aronco on notice for failure to complete road works
A contractor is currently facing the ire of the Minister of Public Works for failing to complete a project on time.
A Department of Public Information (DPI) release on Friday informed that the contractor, Aronco Services Inc has been put on notice for failing to complete the $59.9 million Industrial Road into Industrial Site Area on the East Bank of Demerara. It stated that Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, inspected the project on Friday and was not satisfied that the work which had a December 31, 2021 deadline, remains incomplete.
According to the release, the project which links the Industrial Site to the East Bank Corridor is about 90 per cent completed. While the 275-metre concrete road has been completed, the installation of the culverts remains.
Edghill wasted no time in expressing his dissatisfaction. “I have seen the pre-cast culverts on site, but I am not happy that the workmen are not here to get them in.” He added, “So, my instructions are, they have two weeks to get this road open. It should have been finished to start the new year with everybody getting access. Give and take with all the delays, we are not going beyond two weeks.”
The Public Works Minister cautioned all contractors responsible for executing government projects to have all 2021 works completed as soon as possible.
“The instruction to all contractors in every region, where people slow down for Christmas, today is January 7 and all rollover projects must be implemented. We are not going to go into a budget cycle with projects from 2021 rolling over and then you are coming to tender for 2022 projects … We have to get 2021 completed,” Edghill declared.
The release pointed out that President Irfaan Ali last year had warned that all contractors executing government contracts will be held accountable. He explained that government wants to ensure that Guyana develops at all levels and that people are happy with the quality of work and the transparent ways they are executed. He had also urged, “I want you to understand what is going to take place in this country and why it is so important that we pull our socks up,” the release added.