…sanctions recommended against contractor

A HEATED debate involving councillors of the Regional Democratic Council, Region Four, has resulted in the Regional Chairman Ms Genevieve Allen ordering a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding works at the Supply Health Centre.

The investigation was sparked by several councillors representing both sides of the council stressing the need for the contractor, Navin and Sons, failing to adhere to a cease-work order issued to him for by the clerk of works.

The Region Four Public Relations Department in a release said it was disclosed at the last meeting by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ms Pauline Lucas, that despite being informed about several concerns and a number of reportedly poor quality-of -work concerns, the contractor went ahead and cast the flooring of the building. This, the REO had told councillors, was even though a tree stump which was supposed to have been removed still being there, thus resulting in the flooring being cast over the tree stump. REO Lucas had immediately ordered a cessation of work pending a testing of the structure and an investigation into the matter.

However, according to Senior Engineer of the RDC, Elon Austin, a test conducted by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure disclosed that a stress test was done and the results had concluded that the flooring was of acceptable quality for the continuation of works. “A test was done to see if the floor had the required strength and it was found to be there and based on the results given to us by the Ministry of Infrastructure, it was found to be there,” Engineer Austin said. However, when quizzed by the regional chairman as to when and if the works would be restarted, he informed the meeting that the test was carried out only last week and as such, a decision has not been made by the REO as yet. The regional chairman raised concerns about the project, noting that it is a 2018 project and with now being almost the end of September, it may spill over to 2019.

However, a number of councillors noting that the issue is not so much about the testing, but rather the contractor acting in defiance of an instruction given to him by the clerk of works. They further alluded to the point that the engineer who was assigned to the project at the time had given instructions to the contractor while he was on vacation, which was evidently unacceptable. The issue of the said contractor having some five contracts within the region and with his refusal to adhere to given instructions would ultimately result in similar behaviours with the other contracts that he has.

As such, several councillors unanimously requested for action to be taken against the contractor, noting that to allow such a misstep to slide, would be sending the wrong message and setting the wrong precedent as well. This was supported by several councillors with Councillor Suresh Singh reiterating that he had brought this very issue about contractors doing as they liked with little and/or no proper supervision. Therefore, several councillors said that they firmly believe that action should be taken against the errant contractor.

Regional Chairman Allen then asked councillors to vote on whether action should be taken against the contractor; and/or if a separate investigation should be conducted independently of the REO’s. It was unanimously agreed that an independent CoI should be conducted by the members of the Works Committee.

Adding his voice to the debate was the Regional Vice-Chairman (VC) Earl Lambert, who stressed that the tree stump at Supply has to be removed, irrespective of the fact that a stress test was done. “We know what the stress test is saying, but the reality is that the very root has to be removed as in years to come that tree root if not removed can certainly affect the structure of that building; and we may see the root breaking up the flooring. So certainly there is need for action against this contractor and any other who may have erred,” VC Lambert said.

He added, “We are spending monies to put up a structure and later on it would start cracking. The contractor at Eccles, he was told to remove the zinc sheets because the zinc sheets were not the correct one that was part of the contract and up to now he can’t remove it. I am not accusing anybody, but it seems as though there were some arrangements with the persons supervising the contract. The thing is that yes, we want to give people work, but if you are serious you have to start operating like you’re serious.”
The vice-chairman noted that several contractors are more interested in winning contracts than delivering quality work for taxpayers’ dollars. He stressed that the region needs to take the required action against such contractors who are bent on delivering poor quality work, so as to ensure that there isn’t recurrence of such situations. “You can’t give one man five contracts and all he is trying to do is to push the work and giving us substandard work; and tomorrow he walks away and we are forced to spend monies to correct something that should have been new. I believe that there should be action taken against this contractor and I support the call for action,” VC Lambert declared. Endorsing the call for a full investigation, Councillor Desmond Morian said that he supports the call, noting that it is time that something serious is done rather than mere lip service. He told councillors that he is fully endorsing the action of the regional chairman, declaring that the findings of the investigation should be made public with appropriate action being taken against those found guilty of any activity that is deemed unacceptable and/or inappropriate. RC Allen promised to commission a special meeting shortly to commence the investigation.