THE Sea and River Defence Division in the Ministry of Works expects better systems to be put in place, this year, to monitor the performance of contractors.

Towards that objective, the Division is projecting that, in 2011, two new sections – the GIS and Design Unit within the Works Services Group would be fully operational, complementing its work.

Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Vaughn, gave the indication during an end-of-year review press conference, hosted by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, in his Wight’s Lane, Kingston, Georgetown Office.

Permanent Secretary in the Works Ministry, Mr. Balraj Balram, also gave a synopsis of projects and programmes executed last year, which he described as “a fairly good one with most projects fairly well completed, despite some setbacks.”

According to him, the two new sections would enable Vaughn’s Division to enhance execution of its design and store and retrieve data much easier.

Balram said work has already commenced on the GIS database.

Vaughn also anticipated that the contractors executing works under the ninth European Development Fund (EDF) would increase the current rate of delivery so as to ensure that the projects are completed by the specified October 2011 deadline.

He also expects all contracts for this year to be awarded in a timely manner as the Division has a mandate to reduce the risk of flooding and the loss of land in protected areas, by minimising the likelihood of damage to social and economic infrastructure through construction, maintenance and management of sea and river defences in a technically sound, cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner.

But there is need for better quality control by consultants employed by the Government to supervise contracts as too much money is being expended on consultancies that have not lived up to the expectations of the specifications, Vaughn said.

He emphasised the need for proper quality control on all contracted works.

Alluding to challenges facing the division, Vaughn said it is still plagued with a server shortage of skilled contractors to execute sea defence jobs, a situation which has had serious consequences, as most of the works have had to be awarded to one or two awardees who are already overloaded with awards.

SUB-STANDARD WORKS

He said the effect has seen contractors producing sub-standard works without proper project management on sites.

Vaughn advocated for a continuous programme of monitoring and maintenance, noting it is critical to combating the impacts of climate change.

He said it is evident, as well, that the adequacy of all marine defences in Guyana’s Coastal Zone must be reassessed in the context of extreme climatic events.

Vaughn said, at the beginning of 2010, the Division was allocated $1.47 billion for local programmes and $1.8 billion for foreign-funded projects.

It completed 12 of several rolled over contracts from the previous year and significant investment continued in 2010 towards maintaining the sea defence infrastructure countrywide but more must be invested to ensure that there is effective rehabilitation and maintenance.

Vaughn said, during last year, sections of sea defence were affected by Spring tides, with the one causing the most damage in September, when water levels, ranging from 2.72 metres to 3.36 metres, caused several breaches and overtopping of embankments, resulting in flooding of residential areas in several districts across the country.

The most extreme high tide reached at 3.36 metres, the highest for 2010 and the past decade.

In attendance at the forum, too, were Head of the Work Services Group, Mr. Rickford Lowe; Mr. Khevin Trim of Transport and Harbours Department; Director General of Maritime Administration Department, Ms. Collette Rogers; Chief Executive Officer of Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Mr. Ramesh Ghir; Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Zulfikar Mohamed; Manager of Demerara Harbour Bridge, Mr. Rawlston Adams and Head of Transport Infrastructural Projects, Mr. Leon Goring.