–in meeting with contractors

MINISTER of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, met with a group of contractors recently awarded contracts to construct bridges across communities in Regions Two to Six, using the engagement to set firm expectations for project execution, timeline management, and site safety.
The meeting was held in the ministry’s boardroom and included senior engineers Sherod Parkinson and Colin Gittens, who will work directly with the contractors as the projects move forward.
The contractors, selected from a pool of more than 600 bidders, were assured that the ministry will maintain a hands-on approach to ensure the works are completed in a timely, quality-driven manner, with due consideration given to the unique geographical and logistical challenges present in each project area.
Minister Edghill placed strong emphasis on the need for open communication between contractors and the ministry’s engineering team throughout execution of the works.
“We will hold your hands and show you the ropes as you execute the work,” Minister Edghill told the gathering, adding: “Therefore, supervisor-contractor relations ought to and have to be good because we don’t want issues arising during the construction phase because of poor relations between you, our partners, and our engineers.”
Senior Engineer Parkinson echoed the minister’s call for strong working relationships, stressing the critical importance of time management on the projects.
He urged contractors to work efficiently, to lean on the ministry for support when needed, and to foster good relationships with fellow contractors operating in their respective regions so that progress continues even if unforeseen site issues arise.
“The ultimate objective is to get the work done within a timely manner so that we can present to the community something they are satisfied with,” Parkinson said, adding, “The faster you get in, the faster you should try to get out… We are now all on the same team. So, we might be working on different projects, but collaboration is important.”
Senior Engineer Gittens, addressing site management, reminded contractors that they carry absolute liability for the safety of their sites and stressed the value of maintaining positive relationships with the communities hosting the projects.
“You are responsible for that structure and everything around it… safety is not optional,” Gittens said, noting, “Having good relations with the people within the community you are working in solves almost 90 per cent of problems that could arise.”
Closing out the meeting, Minister Edghill issued firm directives on workplace safety, taking direct aim at the lax use of personal protective equipment (PPE) on construction sites.

“Our Guyanese seem to have an aversion to safety, so please ensure you enforce safety on your sites. Your contracts stipulate this, and I don’t want to show up at any one of your projects and see any worker without their safety gear, nor anyone attired in slippers while mixing cement. I’ll have none of that,” the Minister said.
Minister Edghill also introduced a strict policy governing the dismantling of existing bridge structures, making clear that current infrastructure must only be taken down once all materials needed to complete the replacement structure are already on site.
“We don’t want complaints of contractors opening the bridges, driving only two piles, and then parking their machinery for months. That will not be accepted at all,” he said, adding, “We need great management from you on these projects for the sake of the people whose lives will be disrupted, and for both yourselves and the government.”
The minister reminded contractors that his engineers remain available seven days a week to support the works and reiterated an open-door escalation policy: any issue with an engineer that remains unresolved for more than two weeks should be escalated directly to his office.
Individual site visits for the awarded projects are scheduled to begin in the coming days, with construction expected to commence immediately after contractors are officially shown their respective project areas.