Contractor urged to speed up on Mahaica/Rosignol road
Stabroek News
November 20, 2003
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Anthony Xavier is not satisfied with the pace of work on the Mahaica to Rosignol road rehabilitation project and has urged the contractor Dipcon to speed up.
The Trinidadian company has, according to consultants' estimates, only completed approximately 10% of the work as opposed to the 30% which should have been done by this stage.
Xavier raised his concerns during a site visit to view progress on the IDB-funded road and bridges project.
Communications Consultant in the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, Ajay Baksh on Monday said the minister, who met with Dipcon officials including its head Dip Singh, told them to "get on" with the work.
According to Baksh, Dipcon had up to last Saturday completed shoulder strengthening work just a few yards short of the Cottage Hospital. They are also said to be undertaking road paving at the same time.
The ministry is the supervisory consultant on the project and it is its duty to relate any deficiencies in the pace or other aspects of the work to the contractor for remedial attention.
The contract has a clause which allows the enforcement of liquidated damages if work on the project is not completed within the stipulated time as appropriated in the contract.
Stabroek News understands that a breach of this condition would necessitate the government deducting a percentage of the contractor's fees at a stipulated rate.
Meanwhile, Xavier said he was satisfied with the pace of work of German firm Dywidag International replacing some 27 bridges under the same project.
This was after he had inspected work at its Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice stockyard where the company is moulding pre-stressed components to be used in the replacement of the bridges.
According to Baksh, the German firm is within the stipulated contractual deadline for completion of its tasks.
Work on the road and bridges project, which formally commenced around September of this year is expected to be completed in approximately 18 months.
Several bridges along the route between Mahaica to Rosignol along with others on the lower East Coast Demerara and on the East Bank Demerara are currently benefiting from remedial attention. Several, including one at Onverwagt, have already been fitted with their new pre-stressed columns.