E.C.D road-widening…Slothful works irritating, but delays justifiable

Aug 01, 2014 News

– Public Works

The Ministry of Public Works is once again expressing displeasure with the slow execution of works on the East Coast Demerara Public Road four-lane widening project, but, it has not moved to terminate any contracts.

A section of the E.C.D Public Road four-lane widening project

According to an Engineer of the Public Works Ministry, Ron Rahaman, the Ministry has not terminated any contracts, because justifiable reasons were given by the contractors for the delays. Those executing the various lots were given new extension dates.
Providing an update on the status of each Lot, Rahaman said, “Lot Two (Montrose to Golden Grove) is about 85 percent completed; Lot Three (LBI to Beterverwagting) and Lot Four (Beterverwagting to Triumph) are about 30 percent completed; Lot Five (Triumph to Mon Repos) is 70 percent completed; Lot Six (Mon Repos to De Endragt) is 95 percent completed; and Lot 7 is just 60 percent completed.”
He related that Dipcon Engineering Services Ltd, which is responsible for Lots One, Two and Five, is experiencing shortage of aggregate. This is affecting the progress of Lots Two and Five. However, nothing is stopping the contractor from importing aggregate to hasten the pace of the project.
Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd and Compustruct are responsible for Lots Three and Four respectively, which are moving at a slothful pace, according to Rahaman. Apparently, the justifiable reason why the companies cannot complete the projects timely is “managerial problems”.
In December 2013, it was reported that the Ministry was contemplating terminating Courtney Benn’s contract due to the slothfulness of the project. Seven months after, nothing has changed – the contractor is still on the job and the project is moving slowly.
Rahaman could not have recalled the completion dates for each project, but noted that some would conclude in August and October.
When the road-widening projects are completed, China Railway First Group would be paving the East Coast Demerara four-lane road from Better Hope to Belfield.