'Complicated' tendering delays Takutu bridge construction
Stabroek News
May 8, 2002
The restart of construction of the bridge over the Takutu River on the Guyana-Brazil border has been delayed by the Brazilian authorities' ongoing audit which found that one tender was issued for two projects inclusive of the Takutu bridge.
Work on the bridge stopped in February to facilitate the audit by Brazil's Accounting Tribunal, which is a normal procedure for government projects.
"As far as I know, the procedure is still going on. It is a very complicated situation. Already, the main work is done so work will have to resume as soon as the problem is sorted out," Brazil's Ambassador to Guyana, Ney Do Prado Dieguez, told Stabroek News on Friday.
As a result of the audit, the Brazilian government has suspended funds for the construction. The federal government of Brazil is funding the entire construction.
The ambassador noted that Neudo Ribeiro Campos, the former governor of the state of Roraima, which borders Guyana, paid a visit to President Bharrat Jagdeo last month and briefed him on the situation. Dieguez explained that another bridge was being constructed in Roraima and the Roraima government issued one tender for the two bridges.
"The Accounting Tribunal, because of the law, did not accept this. They said two tenders had to be done," Dieguez stated.
The ambassador said the government of the state of Roraima was working out the problem with the Accounting Tribunal.
"They have to prove that the one tender was the best option," he said.
The issuing of one tender for the two bridges was considered less expensive to the state of Roraima because one company would have been contracted to do both, therefore cutting down on costs.
Dieguez stated it was difficult at this time to tell exactly when the construction would resume but assured that it definitely would recommence.
The bridge, when completed, would be of reinforced concrete supported on four piers, two on either side of the Takutu River. The approach spans are 65 metres apart and the central span, 100 metres.
The bridge will be 14 metres wide to accommodate two-lane traffic and will include pedestrian walkways on either side.
The bridge was originally expected to be completed in August. Work on the access road to the bridge is expected to commence soon so that it could be finished in time for the commissioning of the bridge, which was originally expected to be some time in October.
The Environmental Protec-tion Agency had issued a notice in the Guyana Chronicle on April 16, stating that a public scoping meeting would have been held on May 3 at the Hotel Tower at 1700 hrs. The purpose of the meeting was to allow members of the public to express concerns and suggest issues that should be covered in the Environ-mental Impact Assessment for the project. Stabroek News turned up at the venue but no such meeting was held and none was scheduled according to Hotel Tower. (Andrew Richards)