CITY Engineer Colvern Venture could not answer to the amount of money expended on various construction projects, around the city, though his department is tasked with oversight of the projects.

During his appearance last Friday before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into City Hall, at the Critchlow Labour College, Venture said that while his department makes request for materials, it does not look into price.

The issue of pricing is done by the finance department, he said.
Venture, was at time being questioned by the Council’s Legal Officer Sherwyn Benjamin, about monies spent on varying works, including the Kitty Market rehabilitation, the City Constabulary Training School repairs, and the expected repairs to the Stabroek clock.
Venture, who was also questioned about the state of the works at the various sites, responded that he was not pleased with how the works have gone, but he laid the blame at the foot of the finance department.

“My department depends on the finance department, my department does not work with purchasing materials, when we get the materials is when we work,” he said.
He was questioned, too, about the quality of the materials being used on the Kitty Market since the Commission received reports that substandard materials were being used.
However, Venture again had no answers to offer the Commission.
“No. I’m not; the evidence would have to present itself so that I could tell. It would depend on what is considered substandard,” Venture offered.
Works on the Kitty Market initially began in February 2016, before they were stalled on account of finances; however, in January this year, the works recommenced when a $25 million contract was signed. The money was part of a $200 million subvention that the Council was given by the Ministry of Communities, as part of a “Georgetown Restoration Programme”.

According to an audit, of the $200 million from the restoration fund some $60 million was spent on the market; however, in March of this year, the works were once again stalled up.
Venture was also questioned about the $47 million reportedly spent on works at the City Constabulary Training School, where the historical records of Georgetown are reportedly being poorly stored.

Again, Venture said he could not confirm how much money was expended, but confirmed that some works was done.

“During the period last year we would’ve done works. Some amount was spent for the maintenance work. I can’t say that I was satisfied with the work that was done. I would’ve visited, the state of that location is not one that is habitable at this moment,” Venture noted.

On the issue of the Stabroek clock, Venture testified that to the best of his knowledge, not a cent of the US$41,000 donated for the landmark’s repair was spent, because nothing was ever done to the structure.
In October 2016, the US Embassy made a donation of US$41,000 to City Hall for the rehabilitation of the clock.