…as BK International Inc. vacates location
The Ministry of Education on Friday said it has taken control of the site for the construction of the $826.7M Yarrowkabra Secondary School. BK International Inc. was contracted to construct the school which is to accommodate some 600 children from Yarrowkabra and neighbouring communities.
In a statement, the Ministry said BK International Inc. signed the contract for the construction of the school on January 7, 2020 which is scheduled to be completed by March 2021.
“However, as of today, the school is only 5% completed. This means that the school will not be finished in accordance with the contractual deadline,” the Ministry said adding that “the effect of this unreasonable delay is that the 600 students who are to benefit from the school and its modern facilities will be forced to travel long distances to attend other Secondary Schools or to be placed in the Primary Top Departments of some Primary Schools, which is a practice the Ministry of Education plans to stop.”
The Ministry said that due to the slothful pace at which the construction was taking place, subject minister Priya Manickchand engaged BK International Inc. and pleaded repeatedly for the firm to fulfil its obligation and devise a new work plan which would have seen it completing the school on schedule.
Further, the Ministry said the Vikab Engineering Consultants Limited had advised BK International Inc. to employ additional staff so that more work can be done.
“Hence, BK International Inc. was given a second opportunity to make things right so that the nation’s children can benefit from what they deserve, a modern facility to enable them to achieve their dreams. However, this among other suggestions were unheeded and the Government of Guyana was forced to terminate the contract with the company due to the inordinate delays in the completion of the works,” the Ministry said.
On November 1, 2020, the Attorney General and the Honourable Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall wrote BK International Inc. informing the entity that the contract was terminated with immediate effect.
The Attorney General said that the company had committed a fundamental breach of the terms of the contract and as a result, the Government of Guyana exercised its right to terminate the contract.
In the said letter, the contractor was advised to remove all machinery and equipment from the site.
The Ministry of Education said that on November 10, 2020, Vikab Engineering Consultants Limited visited the site and observed that BK International was still progressing with works despite its contract being terminated.
“In a letter dated November 11, 2020, the Consultancy firm wrote the Manging Director of BK International Inc, Mr. Brian Tiwarie informing him that pursuant to Clause 40.5 [Termination] “the contractor is to stop the works immediately, make the site safe and secure and leave the site as soon as reasonably possible,” the Ministry’s statement said.
The Consultants via the letter instructed BK International Inc. to immediately stop works and advised that any work done or materials ordered beyond the date of termination, November 1, 2020, is done at the company’s own risk.
On November 19, 2020, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Alfred King wrote BK International Inc. instructing the company that all work is halted with immediate effect and the project site be vacated within twenty-four hours.
“As of today, the contractor is no longer on site. The Ministry has installed its own security after taking possession of the site with the help of the enforcement arm of the state. The Government of Guyana wishes to advise that any unauthorized person found removing materials from the site will be prosecuted accordingly,” the Ministry said.
