Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 17, 2017 News
The mobilization payment has been made, and the second phase of the stalled East Coast Demerara road-widening project is expected to begin in April of this year.
This assurance was given by Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, on Tuesday.
“The contractor is mobilizing. They had said to us that they would be on site by the beginning of May. We said that that’s too late, so we’re asking them to be here, the latest, April 1, to start the work,” he said.
The US$46M project was awarded to China Railway First Group Limited. The first phase of the project, which was the preparatory works, had been completed since 2015 at the cost of some G$500M.
While the commencement of the second half of the project was on hold, the sand and other materials used in preparation of the expansion had been washing onto the existing road, leading many to believe that it was just a waste of tax dollars. However, Chief Roads and Bridges Officer of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Ron Rahaman, had defended the first phase of the project.
“I wouldn’t say that it was a waste of money. Of course we would like the additional works to have come much faster, because it would’ve definitely worked better,” he noted.
The East Coast Road Expansion Project was tainted by the findings of the Auditor General for the years 2014 and 2015. The reports showed that a number of overpayments were made to the phase one contractors, under the People’s Progressive Party Civic government.
When the Coalition Government took office, Minister Patterson announced that measures were put in place to ensure that the monies are repaid to the state. Actual payments are expected to begin this year.
“All the issues that they had prior to us coming to office, were resolved,” the Minister told this newspaper.
The East Coast road-widening and improvement project caters for a section of the main thoroughfare between Better Hope and Belfield. (Rehana Ahamad)
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