Dear Editor,
THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure wishes to respond to an article published in the Stabroek News edition on Friday, February 8, 2019, under the headline, “Road Expansion works causes Blygezight flooding.” The Ministry of Public Infrastructure would like to thank you for the highlights in your article; however, our consultant along with the contractor and a team from the ministry visited the affected community and also the area highlighted in the article to determine the causes of the flooding in the area.

The contractor, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, is presently executing preparatory works for the construction of a roundabout at the junction of Railway Embankment and Sheriff Street, which is part of the existing contract for the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue Road Expansion Project. This aspect of the project entails the placing of drainage pipes in the existing canals to allow for effective drainage of the surrounding areas, as the works were being undertaken. The drainage works resulted in water backing up in the drainage system and was compounded by the high rain intensity during the mentioned period.

The ministry has instructed the contractor through the consultant, Egis International in association with SRKN’gineering, to ensure that pumps are always placed at strategic locations to aid in draining the area. This was another immediate action. This operation was put in place and the water within the surrounding areas has receded. The consultant and the ministry’s Environmental and National Task Force Commission team will continue to monitor this situation to ensure that there is no such re-occurrence.

The ministry is taking necessary steps to ensure that all specifications and conditions in the contract are adhered to by the contractor.
The ministry apologises for any inconvenience or discomfort this has caused the residents. We would like to express our thanks to the residents for their support during our site visit and we look forward to your continuous support throughout this project.

We wish to indicate to Stabroek News and any public stakeholder, that for public enquiries or emergencies, please contact our Construction Hotline (623-1430) and / or Email: sheriffmandela@gmail.com
Regards
Krest Cummings
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Public Infrastructure