Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 07, 2008 News
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – Last week, the Region Six Administration presented a progress report on the 2008 Capital Programme that covered the period ended May 28, last. According to the Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha, the completion rate is just over 50 percent.
The inclement weather has had some effect on most of the projects. In terms of bridges, which are mainly for agricultural and footpath, some of the jobs had to be placed on hold based on requests made by farmers.
According to Mustapha, the said structures are being used by these farmers to transport their machinery into the farmlands for the second rice crop which is still under cultivation.Work on some of the footpath bridges is completed while on those not yet finished the programme is expected to recommence by mid-July.
This year, unlike previous ones concrete decking is to be used on these structures. Mustapha explained that previously wooden structures were used but this resulted in rapid deterioration and parts being stolen.
Approximately $21 million was awarded in contracts for work on bridges. Contractor A. Ramcharitar was awarded a $2 million contract to build a bridge at Moleson Creek. This according to the progress report is completed.
The other completed structures were given to Memorex Enterprise and are footpath bridges at Number Sixty/Sixty-one Sideline West, Number Sixty-nine/Seventy Sideline East and Number Sixty-four/Sixty-five Essex. They carry price tags of $383,000; $435,000 and $618,000 respectively.
The contract for a heavy duty bridge at Conakabora Creek at Orealla is yet to be awarded. However the 2008 progress report reflects that some $14.1 million is to be spent on that task.
Other footpath bridges are under construction at Lesbeholden North, Black Bush Polder; Crabwood Creek and Number Forty-seven/Forty-eight Village both of which are in the hands of contractor A. Ramcharitar.
At Mibicuri South, Yakusari North and Joanna South, Memorex Enterprises is also doing like structures.
The Region Six Chairman said that at Number Forty-seven/Forty-eight Village, the bridge was completed but the contractor has not been paid as yet. This, he explained, is based on complaints made by residents about the quality of material selected for the job.
This week, the Region Six engineer, Paul Lyken, is expected to visit the location to inspect the job before the finance is handed over.
The $85 million 2008 budgetary allowance this year for the Public Works sector is to be used on the construction of bridges, to upgrade community roads and on land development.
The figures allocated are $21 million for the construction of bridges, $47 million to upgrade community roads and $17 million on land development.
The areas to derive benefits from road work include two $7 million roads for Fyrish and Bush Lot, upgrading four streets at Port Mourant, Number Sixty-four Village, Joanna and Cumberland at a cost of approximately $3 million each.
Two streets are to be upgraded at Yakusari and Johns, Port Mourant, at a cost of some $4 million apiece and two at Crabwood Creek and Johns, Port Mourant, at a cost of $5 million each.
Minor work would be done on thoroughfares at Kilcoy/Fyrish, Orealla/Siparuta, Number Sixty-three Village and Number Sixty-four Village. Each bears a price tag of less than $1 million.
Work mainly to enhance existing housing schemes such as at Fort Ordinance in East Canje, Port Mourant, the East Bank of Berbice and on the Upper Corentyne is listed under land development. There is to be the involvement of the Central Housing Ministry.
In the 2008 Budget some $44 million goes to the Education sector; $36 million of this amount is for the construction and rehabilitation of school buildings as well as a teachers’ quarters.
The contract for the rehabilitation of the Crabwood Creek Primary School on the Corentyne was awarded to Contractor P. Basdeo. The state of this institution has been a source of concern to some parents and some $4.7 million is being spent on this job. Contractor C. Douglas is 90 percent into the rehabilitation of the Lighttown Primary School on the East Bank of Berbice.
This job has a $1.8 million price tag and includes general repairs and painting.
The information technology laboratory at the Black Bush Polder Secondary School is to be upgraded. This $4.3 million contract should be awarded by mid-July. Contractor C. Douglas is also working on the Canje Secondary School. This $5 million contract is being executed in sections based on priority. The teachers’ quarters at Siparuta is almost complete. Associated Construction Services is executing this $3.6 million project. When completed, the facility is expected to house ten teachers.
New nursery schools are to be constructed at Gibraltar and Number Seventy-nine Village. The $8.7 million and $8 million contracts are to be awarded by next week. Some $8 million is budgeted for furniture and equipment.
In addition to sums that would be injected by the Ministry of Health to boost health care delivery in East Berbice/Corentyne this year, the Region Six Administration was allotted $35 million.
A breakdown reflects that $14 million would be spent on buildings, $3 million on transportation and $18 million on furniture and equipment.
These jobs include $5.1 million repairs to the roof and nurses’ dormitory of the Mibicuri Hospital. This project began in April and is half way through.
In an attempt to address the water issue at the New Amsterdam Hospital, a $1 million reservoir is to be built. This project had to be placed on hold until the Regional Health Authority submits the design.
Safe disposal boxes are to be erected to the tune of $7.4 million at the New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, Skeldon and the Mibicuri Public Hospitals, the Crabwood Creek and at the Number Sixty-four Health Centres.
Drainage and irrigation is expected to absorb $82 million this year. In 2007 the largest single allocation – $80 million went to the drainage and irrigation sector most of which was used up in areas on the East Bank. The Office of the President and the Ministry of Agriculture gave an additional $60 million which was used on community roads and the drainage and irrigation sector last year.
This year, an $8.5 million RC Aqueduct is to be built at Tain and a four by four culvert for the same figure is to be made at Belvedere on the Corentyne. These are to be awarded later this month.
Millions of dollars would be used to reconstruct drainage and irrigation concrete bridges at different localities in East Berbice/Corentyne including the four schemes at Black Bush Polder, timber bridges at Number Sixty-two Village and Hacks Canal at Black Bush Polder.
Timber revetment is to be placed on sluices at Lonsdale, Crabwood Creek and Number Sixty-seven. A $45 million culvert is on the list for Wellington Park, culverts are to be rehabilitated at a cost $2 million at New Forest, breaches at the Mara Crown Dam are to be sealed at a cost of $3 million and regulators are to be reconstructed at Seaforth at a $2 million cost.
Work on a number of projects is also listed for other areas and is in various stages of completion.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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