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IN a review of its performance for the period 2011/2012, the Works Services Group of the Ministry of Public Works revealed that ten (10) projects were awarded during the year, but four (4) have been completed and the other six have been rolled over to 2013. The total annual budget for the period under review was $1.4 billion for the nationally-funded programmes, and $1.2 billion for foreign-funded EU projects.
The sum of $6.38B was provided in the 2012 budget for construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads and bridges within the country, and at the end of the period under review, the sum of $4.61B, or 72% of the total sum, had been disbursed. This is according to a press release issued by the relevant ministry.
The review said significant investments continued in 2012 towards maintaining sea defence infrastructure throughout the country, but additional investments are needed to ensure effective rehabilitation and maintenance works are done to complete critical structures.
The release also said the division had its fair share of challenges in upgrading to good condition sections of the sea defence infrastructure which had been affected by the actions of high tides; and in having to terminate, upon advice of the Attorney General’s Chambers last August, a road contract issued to Falcon Transportation and Construction Services because sufficient evidence had been unearthed of reportedly fraudulent practices. Work on Lot 1 of the East Coast Demerara four-lane roadway has since commenced (at start of 2013).
The Works Minister’s prompt decision to terminate that contract stemmed from an article published in the Kaieteur News of August 15, quoting officials of that firm as saying that they were ready to produce evidence to support their contentions.
The sum of $6.38B was provided in the 2012 budget for construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads and bridges within the country, and at the end of the period under review, the sum of $4.61B, or 72% of the total sum, had been disbursed. This is according to a press release issued by the relevant ministry.
The review said significant investments continued in 2012 towards maintaining sea defence infrastructure throughout the country, but additional investments are needed to ensure effective rehabilitation and maintenance works are done to complete critical structures.
The release also said the division had its fair share of challenges in upgrading to good condition sections of the sea defence infrastructure which had been affected by the actions of high tides; and in having to terminate, upon advice of the Attorney General’s Chambers last August, a road contract issued to Falcon Transportation and Construction Services because sufficient evidence had been unearthed of reportedly fraudulent practices. Work on Lot 1 of the East Coast Demerara four-lane roadway has since commenced (at start of 2013).
The Works Minister’s prompt decision to terminate that contract stemmed from an article published in the Kaieteur News of August 15, quoting officials of that firm as saying that they were ready to produce evidence to support their contentions.
