The Guyana government says it has taken firm action against a Trinidadian company that was responsible for the Western section of the Conversation Tree Road project, following prolonged delays..
A government statement said that the Irfaan Ali administration, through the Ministry of Public Works, has “reached an amicable agreement with Kallco Guyana Inc. which would see it paying for works completed up to this point, and the company settling all outstanding financial matters surrounding the project”
It said this includes returning the outstanding balance for work to be done on the project, adding that the company also stood the cost of other liabilities after the project surpassed the contractual time frame and suffered prolonged delays.
The statement gave no details regarding the financial aspect of the project.
Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, said that the action comes as a response to the project also causing significant inconvenience to residents and impeding crucial infrastructural development.
“We have light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Conversation Tree project. I want to officially announce that Kallco has been demobilised from the site. They have settled all of their obligations as it relates to their contract with the Government of Guyana,” he said during an inspection of the ongoing works.
The government has since appointed a local contractor S. Jagmohan and Sons to complete the remaining works, saying it had successfully executed the Eastern section of the project, demonstrating reliability and efficiency in their work.
Edghill, emphasising the urgency of expediting the project to alleviate the inconvenience faced by citizens, said that efforts are underway to swiftly execute the remaining works well before Christmas.
“We want this to be able to be done quickly. It is going to finish long before Christmas in case you’re thinking if this is going over to next year, not at all. I will hope that we are able to get this done by the end of August. We are pushing, the contractor knows that he has to work day and night and we are getting that done,” he said.
In addition to S. Jagmohan and Sons being tasked with completing the project, the ministry has engaged nine small contractors to rehabilitate the boulevard along Conversation Tree.
The work will include the construction of a walkway, installation of lighting, and landscaping to improve safety, accessibility, and aesthetics along the thoroughfare.
Source: The Guardian
