– contractor to face penalties if acceptable reasons cannot be provided
WHILE work on the Hope Canal project is proceeding, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy expressed his concern about whether some components would be completed by the June, 2013 deadline.

The US$15M project, which is expected to be the answer to the annual flooding experienced in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary areas during rainy periods, has four components: the over 10-kilometre channel from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC); a bridge across the public road; a conservancy head regulator with three gates and a sluice at the canal’s Atlantic Ocean end that will have eight gates.
During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle last Wednesday at the Ministry’s Regent Road, Georgetown boardroom, Dr Ramsammy disclosed that he has greatest confidence in the actual construction of the canal which is being done by the Ministry through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
“That work is progressing; we have completed the digging of the canal from just before the highway all the way past the Crown Dam and now approaching the conservancy. We can’t approach the conservancy yet because we have to wait until the head regulator construction is completed. So a little piece will remain and will be done after that is completed,” he explained.
Additionally, he mentioned that work cannot be done on the highway to the sea until both the bridge and the sluice are finished.
He reiterated that he has no deep concern on this aspect and noted that they are presently shaping the dams which should be completed within the specified time.
The second of the four components is the bridge which is being constructed by Dipcon Engineering. The minister said that while he does have some concern about this component he believes that they have a good chance of completing by the June deadline.
According to him, significant progress has been made on the third component, which is the conservancy head regulator being undertaken by BK International.
“I am urging them, my director met with them yesterday, and we are urging them that they must complete this by June,” he stressed.
However, Ramsammy disclosed that he has some concerns that the BK contractors may have to work overtime to get the job done on time.
“One of the reasons why I wanted them to work ,in the last couple of months, overtime in the nights if possible, is that we have this weather that will begin to impact,” he stated.
The minister further revealed that the final component, which is the construction of the sluice has been moving the slowest of the four.
“This is the Courtney Benn part which I’ve been expressing major concern on my disbelief that they can complete the work by June,” he said.
Nevertheless, he added that they have made enormous progress. He noted that they are currently at the stage of driving piles which should be completed with the next few days.
“Whilst in October I doubted they could have, I believe that within a few days they might very well complete it, which would give them a fighting chance of completing their work by June,” he asserted.
Ramsammy pointed that that the ministry is urging the Courtney Benn contractors to undertake other tasks simultaneously while the piles are being driven, and noted that they are beginning to do other things which can be done in the meanwhile.
He also emphasised that should the contractors not be able to complete the work within the specified time frame, without providing acceptable reasons, penalties will be administered.
“We have said to all the contractors that we are not prepared to entertain delays and yes, if there are no justifiable reasons for that lateness, I have said, and the President has said, that we are going to penalize the contractors,” he stated strongly.
However, he related that if the weather changes dramatically and there is above normal rainfall then those situations will have to be examined.