A TEAM from the Local Government Ministry headed by Permanent Secretary Collin Croal visited Port Kaituma, Region One, on July 13 and 14, to inspect the progress of construction of several major projects implemented in the district, the pace of which has raised the ire of both residents and the ministry. Among projects visited were the main access road which links Port Kaituma and Orinoco, the Port Kaituma Secondary School, in Matarkai, which is being extended and the sanitary blocks that are being installed at the Port Kaituma Primary School.
According to the Government Information Agency(GINA), the local government ministry is dissatisfied with the pace of the Port Kaituma-Orinoco road and contractor’s excuse of heavy rainfall delaying construction.
Unhappy with the contractor’s excuses, the visit allowed for steps to be put in place to facilitate the timely construction of the road. To this end, the contractor has promised to, in two weeks, complete certain aspects.
This includes tying together the steel that is required for the revetment of the road and putting them in place. Works to this effect is 50 percent complete.
Should the contractor fail to complete the remaining portion of the work in time, the ministry will then move to invoke the penalty clause which could see the contract being terminated.
Progress of work on the Port Kaituma Primary and Secondary Schools will also be judged along the same line.
Regional officials were informed by the team that should the contractors of these project fail to complete by specific dates, certain aspects of works, then the region is authorised to implement certain measures. Among these is the re-collection of payment issued and if necessary re-tendering of the works.
Whilst in the region, GINA said the team also held a series of meeting with Regional Officials and with the 13-member Port Kaituma, Arakaka, Matthews Ridge Interim Management Committee (IMC) that was installed in March.
The meeting with the IMC allowed for management issues of the council to be addressed.
The team also conducted training sessions with some members of the committee and the IMC’s records were perused and advice given that relates to the systems that should be implemented for effective record keeping.