Contractor still unable to progress because of presence of utilities
– Gov’t preparing first $21M cheque to GT&T for cable, pole removal

BK International Inc has again been lamenting the financial strains the company is facing because of deadlock between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and the Government of Guyana (GoG) in respect to relocation of very vital telephone cables and poles.

During a site visit to Phase Three of the East Bank Four-Lane Extension Project yesterday, Site Engineer Julian Archer, speaking on behalf of BK’s Managing Director, Brian Tiwari, told the media that, to date, the road work is

more than a year and a half behind schedule, and the delay is costing BK International two million dollars per day in labour, machinery, and other vital components which need to be present on the worksite on any given day.

The 1.2 kilometres of road being constructed by the company is lined with utility poles and cables belonging to the GT&T; and pipelines also obstruct the work path that BK must use. Archer told the media that, already, the Guyana Water Inc. has committed to removing its pipelines, but GT&T has not budged in regard to removing its encumbrances.

Asked about approaching the courts for a decision on the way forward, Archer said that such actions would have to be left to the Government of Guyana, currently in talks with GT&T.

Contacted yesterday for comment on the issues and discomfiture of the contractor, a GT&T official assured that the company would provide an official feedback today with respect to the replacement of the poles and cables.

Meanwhile, this publication has been reliably informed by a source at the Ministry of Public Works that the engagements with respect to the removal and replacement of the GT&T poles are progressing, and the Government of Guyana is in the process of awarding the phone company $21 million dollars to initiate the replacements.

The Guyana Chronicle has been informed that Government would be paying the phone company $42 million dollars, a sum expected to cover the overall expenses of relocating the utilities of the company along the East Bank of Demerara.

The BK official also told reporters yesterday that numerous letters have been written with respect to addressing the issue regarding the utility companies and the delay in getting works done. He, however, said that BK International does not have to pay liquidated damages for the delay, since the reasons for the delay are clear and the facts are available.

(By Leroy Smith)