-Minister Rohee stresses need for quality work

Minister Rohee poses with contract awardees at his ministry’s boardroom yesterday.

MINISTER of Home Affairs Clement Rohee yesterday met and awarded contracts to contractors who will be undertaking projects on behalf of the Ministry.

The meeting was a follow-up to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s meeting with contractors in April at the Guyana International Conference Center (GICC).  

While addressing the contractors, Minister Rohee reiterated the President’s resolve to rigidly enforce all provisions, to ensure a more timely delivery of civil projects by contractors and consultants and insisted that they will start with pre-qualification of contractors.

The Ministry has mobilized assessment teams which will be deployed at the various locations across the country to inspect and assess the works to ensure that the requisite standards are met.

The Minister noted that on several occasions there have been complaints of poor workmanship, use of inferior materials, incomplete works and failure to meet deadlines. He also disclosed plans to establish a permanent assessment team at the Ministry.

This team will work hand-in-hand with the contractors and will take into consideration the views of Guyanese, who will be the beneficiaries.

The contractors were given a chance to concur observations and constraints that might affect their ability to meet the requirements.  

Also present was Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine, who noted that on many occasions prisoners were employed as labourers and were unpaid at the end of the project.

The Ministry, from its annual budgetary allocation, is undertaking a number of Capital Projects for 2009.

Slated under the Guyana Police Force is the Leonora Police Station, which will be rehabilitated at the cost of $5M and a Commander’s Quarters, will be constructed at the cost of $6,731,661.

Rehabilitative works will also be carried out at the Narcotics Building, CID Headquarters at a cost of $5,589,500; Turkeyen Police Station at $9,765,500; Yarakita Police Station at $5,942,431; Baramita Police Station at $7,295,210; Enachu Police Station at $7,567,110; Adventure Police College in Berbice at $6,115,557; and Richard Faikall Police College at Suddie, Essequibo at $7,769,560.

Rehabilitation and construction of Pounds will be carried out in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6 to reduce the prevalence of stray animals on the roadways at the cost of $13,290,236.

Roxanne Primo General Constructions will be carrying out rehabilitation works at the Brickdam Lockups at the cost of $5,911,780.

This includes tiling of the floors and installation of new washroom facilities, doors and lighting system. To facilitate these works, inmates of the prison are temporarily relocated for a seven-week period, during which works are expected to be completed.  

A training facility will also be constructed at Felix Austin Police College (FAPC), Eve Leary at the cost of $17,337, 667.

Works for the Guyana Fire Service includes renovation to the West Ruimveldt Fire Station at the cost of $1,871,545, Corriverton Fire Station at a cost of $3,563,195, Residence building at the Campbelville Fire Station Compound at a cost of $2,361,880, and the Officers Quarters at the Timehri Fire Station at the $1,443,050.  

The long-awaited Reservoir, Appliance Park, Driveway and Fuel Bay will be constructed at the Bartica Fire Station at the cost of $2,573, 500.

Works for the Guyana Prison Service includes renovation to Officers’ Quarters, Kingston, at the cost of $10,591,020, and renovation and construction of the Vocational Training Centre at New Amsterdam Prison at $5,030,980. Additionally, a Retraining Area will be constructed at the New Amsterdam Prison that will cost $3,868,300, strong cells at the New Amsterdam Prison at $9,033,200, Officers Quarters, Lusignan Prison at $9, 894,715, and construction of the Inner Sterile Area at the New Amsterdam Prison at $5, 272, 290.

At yesterday’s meeting, a number of contracts were awarded for current projects and infrastructural work.

Contracts were awarded for the rehabilitation to Lethem Police Station at the cost of $5,586,700; Suddie Police Station at $3, 846,814; Officers’ Quarters at Camp Road at $3,282,400; Living Quarters at 49-17 Stanley Town, New Amsterdam at $6,464,520; La Grange Police Station at $5,374,570; Cove and John Police Station at $5,088,525; Immigration Building, Camp Road at $1,895,350;  Living Quarters, 49-20 Stanley Town, New Amsterdam at $6,466,620; Mess Hall and Kitchen Area, Brickdam Police Station at $3,052,310; Check Point, Linden-Soesdyke Highway at $6,634,470 and Commissioner’s residence, Rabbit Walk, Eve Leary at $5,833,530.

Infrastructural works include rehabilitation to the fence at Grove Police Station at $1,455,472; Eve Leary at $2,560,500; Blairmont Police Station at $3,056,550; and Whim Police Station at $4,630,750.      

Recently, Minister Rohee commissioned the remodelled East La Penitence and Brickdam police stations.(GINA)