-as gov’t cracks down on inefficiency, thoughtlessness
– Minister Edghill vows swift action on delayed road construction works

THE government of Guyana remains steadfast in its commitment to rapidly advance the nation’s infrastructural development. Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, has declared that significant delays caused by incompetent and inconsiderate contractors will no longer be tolerated.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Edghill revealed that he conducted a site visit to the Bendorff to Maripa Access Road project on the East Bank of Essequibo on Tuesday morning to assess the progress of work by JP General Construction Services.

“The project started in August 2023 and was scheduled for completion in February 2024. However, due to the incompetence and inefficiency of the contractor, we had to terminate his contract. He hasn’t demonstrated that he can get the work done, and he has put the people who need to use that road in a more difficult position than when there was no road,” Minister Edghill stated.

Minister Edghill emphasised that the government had been more than reasonable with the contractor, whose contract was initially set to expire in February. Despite the government’s willingness to extend the deadline and the contractor receiving poor performance letters and liquidated damages, the progress remained unsatisfactory.

Project Status and Financial Overview
The Bendorff to Maripa Access Road project, also known as Lot 51, involved a contract sum of G$55,966,900 with JP General Construction. The contract was signed on June 5, 2023, with a commencement order issued on August 2, 2023. The original completion date was set for February 2, 2024, which was later updated to March 12, 2024. Liquidated damages were scheduled to start on March 12, 2024, and end on June 20, 2024. An advance payment of G$16,790,070 was made, with the value of works to date standing at G$16,619,121.

To date, the contractor has completed 915 metres in white (requiring recompacting) and 450 metres in white sand/sand clay (needing compaction and testing) out of the original scope to construct 1,000 metres of flexible pavement. However, only 30 per cent of the work has been completed. Poor performance was noted on September 15, 2023, December 5, 2023 and January 5, 2024.

While the government is pleased that Guyanese are benefiting from opportunities to secure contracts, Minister Edghill made it clear that the government would not “sit back” and allow anyone to exploit the system or the government’s generosity. He explained that despite repeated warnings, the contractor continued to work without urgency or consideration.

“Even though this contractor’s contract time had passed, we granted his request for an extension of time; we have gone to liquidated damages; he has also received poor performance letters; and this is what it has come to,” Edghill said.

Addressing the future of the project, Minister Edghill assured that there is no shortage of contractors in Guyana. The Ministry of Public Works will engage a competent and reliable contractor to complete the job swiftly and efficiently.

“We at the ministry will use a process and engage a competent contractor to complete the job in a swift and timely manner,” he noted.

Minister Edghill also expressed understanding and sympathy for the residents who rely on the road, especially during the rainy season. He acknowledged their frustration with the project’s delays and asked for their continued patience as the government works to assign a new contractor to finish the job.

Material Storage and Waste Disposal
In a recent interview, Minister Edghill also addressed concerns about the improper storage of building materials and waste along highways and community road corridors. He emphasised that this practice contributes to road damage and creates traffic hazards.

“While we are happy to see the developments happening in our communities, we are still not pleased with the way some people are storing their construction materials and disposing of their waste,” he said.

The minister called on government contractors working on highways and using heavy-duty machinery to consider the safety and well-being of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. He stressed the importance of proper storage of materials and safe operation of machinery to avoid hindering motorists or pedestrians.

“Our contractors should ensure that their construction materials are stored properly and that their machinery operates in a manner that does not hinder motorists or pedestrians. Ensure that your signs are up, and drivers are directed properly,” Minister Edghill advised.