– Contractor urged to speed up work
UNDER the Ninth European Development Fund (9th EDF), the Ministry of Public Works and Communications is aggressively constructing,
reconstructing and rehabilitating sea defence infrastructure along the country’s coastline. Chief Sea and River Defence Officer of the Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn, has stated that of 33 sites under the project,
work is 60 percent completed. He noted that major rehabilitation works executed in Springlands, Wakanaam, Leguan and Clonbrook
were of excellent standard.
It was noted that some works under the project are lagging and the Ministry has urged the contractor to hasten
progress. Works for sea defence under the 9th EDF have to be completed in December 2011 to facilitate works under the 10th EDF.
“We still find the contractor behind in his schedule. This project is expected to be completed in 2011, so by December
31, 2011, it is expected that no more funds will be placed from the European Union into the 9th EDF project. Therefore it is of
importance that the contractor, along with the managing consultant of the project, speed up works,” Vaughn stated.
On November 23, 2009, the Government of Guyana and the European Commission, at Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara, held a ground-
breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of physical works under the 9th European Development Fund.
The fund total for the project exceeds Euros 17 million. It focuses on the reconstruction of 1.6 kilometers of sea defence and
rehabilitation and maintenance of approximately 18 km.
The utilisation of the grant will foster preventative maintenance and reconstruction, as well as the institutional capacity
building components, including the expansion of the already established Shore Zone Management System. (GINA)