Gov’t owes BK $1.3B, but suing company for $8.4M

BK International, in a statement on Wednesday, said it is owed approximately $1.3B by the Government for contracts executed.

The company said this indebtedness dates back to January 25, 2010.

According to BK International, its records show that $21,388,089 is outstanding for works on the Supenaam Wharf. A further $82, 468,100 is owed for sea defence works funded by the European Union since September 5, 2012.

The Ministry of Works is still to pay $26,330,520 for works on the Ogle Airport Expansion project. This money is outstanding since April 12, 2012. On September 24, 2013, BK International completed the Parika/Supenaam roll-on/roll off ferry. The government is still to pay the outstanding $37,530,784, the company says.

“Most of the money is owed for the work on the West Coast Demerara road project which was completed nearly a decade ago. This project was a joint venture with a Jamaican company, SBK. The government is still to pay the valuation of US$4,399,589 ($879,917,800). The government further owes the company for works on sea defence projects at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. The breach at Prospect, Mahaicony, was sealed on January 12, 2021 but the government is still to pay $98,797,104 to the contractor, BK International,” it said.

The sea defence breach at Content was completed earlier but the government is still to pay the outstanding $94,501,978. On May 11, 2020 BK International completed construction for a building now occupied by the Environment Protection Agency. It is still to be paid $15,432,455.

BK International made the disclosure on Wednesday, days after the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall sued BK Marine for millions of dollars reportedly owned in rent for the Water Street Bond.

In his application, the Attorney General said the bond, located at Lot 5 Water Street, Kingston, Georgetown, was rented to BK Marine in August, 2003 by the Transport and Habours Department of the Ministry of Public Works at an annual rental fee of $600,000. However, he said the company stopped paying the fee in August, 2009.

“The agreement dated 1st August, 2003 was orally terminated by Transport and Habours Department. However, notwithstanding the termination of the Agreement between the Defendant and the T&HD, the Defendant continued to remain in possession of the property situate at Lot 5 Water Street, Georgetown, the Northern section of the Goods Department Compound T&HD and has failed and or neglected to vacate the premises or pay annual rent of the sum of $600,000,” the Attorney General told the Court. He said the arrears now total some $8.4M.

“Given the huge indebtedness by the government, the company now wants to know if it is on a money grabbing drive. Nandlall has made no mention of the government’s indebtedness to BK International,” the statement emerging from BK says.

Managing Director of BK International, Brian Tiwarie in response to the announced court action said that he has had to fund the government’s indebtedness. Workers have to be paid regardless of whether the government pays its debt or not.

He declined to comment on Nandlall’s actions.