In Region Ten…
THE Regional Executive Officer (REO) in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice), Mr. Henry Rodney said he is very concerned that a number of contractors, who were awarded contracts for several roads in Linden, have failed to effect those works but have since committed themselves to the bigger jobs which they later secured.
Speaking in his office at Mackenzie, on Thursday, he said he hopes to address the issue soon.
Rodney said the same contractors work on roads all over the country but the Region has “a fixed pocket” of them, with whom he has had some difficulties in them tending the regional work, as the community and urban projects are financed through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Works.
He said, in effect, the contractors are addressing the larger jobs instead of the regional ones which are smaller.
Rodney said: “We will have to take the position that we would not allow them to be pre-qualified for works in the future.”
He said he has had some discussions but will have a further meeting before he takes decisive action.
“At this stage, we are trying to coax them as we do not have many alternatives but we are, seriously, reviewing their attitude and approach to the contracts and our future endeavours with them,” Rodney stated.
He said the situation developed this year as a lot of road works have been done throughout the country, based on the big urban and community road projects between the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Works, as mandated by President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Rodney said those works are being treated as priority, although the contractors sign contracts with the Region long before.
He said one option is instituting liquidation damages beyond the contracted period and making defaulters pay $20,000 a day.
“And, if they do not show any improvement and adherence to those contractual clauses, then we would have to look further as it relates to our contractors doing future works for the Region.” Rodney warned.