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Installation of Govt. Fibre Optic Cable…Contractor’s shoddy work is now Ministry’s burden
The Public Works Ministry is now tasked with correcting shoddy laying of the fibre optic cable from Kurupkari to Mabura by one of the project’s contractors. And because of limited resources under Government’s US$32M project to install fiber optic cable from Lethem to Georgetown, the E-Government Project Unit was unable to adequately monitor the groundwork, resulting in the inferior installation.
This was the assertion of Project Manager Alexei Ramotar, during an interview with this publication yesterday.
Alexei Ramotar
Ramotar said that the Unit made site visits along the stretch, except in that section, and reports from the supervising contractor, Fibre Optic Solutions, that the contractor was executing the project according to the one-metre under the surface specification, “were accepted as the truth”.
However, following numerous complaints from commuters traversing the stretch that the cable was “showing”, a team finally made a site visit. It was then discovered that the cable was merely covered by soil and in some cases was “laid where the water runs”.
“The supervising contractor was fired and the contracts were withdrawn from the contractor,” Ramotar stressed.
The Project Manager refused to comment as to how much money was expended, but gave assurances that the contractors were not paid and those monies are now being spent to correct the flaws.
Laying of the 560-kilometre fibre optic cable was divided into lots and these were awarded to Mekdeci Machinery and Construction (MMC), DAX Contracting, Dynamic Engineering, and G. Bovell Construction Services, and began in January 2011. All the contractors, except Dynamic Engineering, took about three months to mobilize. Ramotar noted that Dynamic Engineering had previous experience, while it was a learning curve for the others.
He said that physical works began in April 2011, but were progressing slowly. Poor weather conditions and the absence of the appropriate equipment were cited for the slothfulness of contractors in the execution of the project.
Ramotar asserted that DAX Contracting was the only company that had the correct equipment for the task. Nonetheless, work began to pick up by October, but during the period leading up to the National Elections in November 2011, it slowed again. The running of the aerial and under-the-surface cables was expected to conclude in January 2012.
According to Ramotar, when the corrective works are completed, Cummings Electrical will be installing solar power equipment at Linden, Mabura, Kurupukari, Annai and Lethem. This aspect of the project will be monitored by Public Works Ministry.
The solar equipment will be powering the DWDM (Dense wavelength division multiplexing) equipment provided by Huawei Technologies. That equipment will be used to send signals from Lethem to Georgetown. When the project is completed, internet services will be accessible along that path.
Ramotar said that Government is working on another project to provide internet in other populated areas. He explained that Government will use strands from Guyana Power and Light Inc. fibre optic cable that will be laid from Corriverton, Region Six to Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara, to provide internet in those areas. In addition, Essequibo will access internet through high capacity microwave transmission.
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