Latest update March 25th, 2025 7:08 AM
Latest News
- Surinamese invest US$516M into country’s first oil project
- ExxonMobil impact study for Hammerhead project silent on likely explosion from new pipeline
- ‘A shocking breach’: Trump officials leak military attacks to The Atlantic
- Pensioner goes missing during creek outing at Kwakwani
- Cuban national jailed for entering Guyana illegally
Monies were increased due to increased scope of works – Agri Ministry
CEO of NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth
Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, has explained that the sum of monies was increased for the sluices in Wakenaam and Leguan because of the expanded scope of works that are needed.
Kaieteur News recently reported that a $20 million contract was awarded for the construction of a drainage structure (sluice) at Amersfort, Wakenaam, while $35 million was awarded for the construction of a similar drainage structure (sluice) in Waterloo, Leguan.
However, it was later reported that the money for both these contracts has been increased from $20 million to $25.8 million, while the budgeted $35 million has also been increased to $42.6 million.
In responding to queries from this newspaper yesterday, Wordsworth said that in Wakenaam, the old structure is severely eroded and based on technical assessment the structure will have to be shifted inwards to safeguard against erosion, while additional revetment works will need to be added in order to secure the structure unto the sea defense.
“There was an increased scope of works which was put out in the bid that went out to all the bidders that participated in the process,” Wordsworth said.
As it relates to Leguan, he said that there is an old structure at the site which has not been functioning for many years. However, he added that farmers are calling for the NDIA to also resuscitate another structure west of Waterloo and thus there is expanded scope of works that will examine and resuscitate the old structure.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud explained that monies are allocated based on the scope of works originally proposed but this can change when additional works are found to be done.
He added that in the National Procurement process, when a contract goes out to tender, it goes with an engineer’s estimate. This is where the in-house engineer would come up with the projected cost based on the factors available and what the project intends to do. It was noted that the engineers estimate is catered for in the budget.
But when the bidders go through the competitive bidding process several persons would have tendered and the lowest bid would be between $5 million and $6 million, above the engineers estimate.
This, too, he said, would be a reason for the change in some contract costs.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Desecration, Disrespectful, and Disgraceful
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The solemnity of Babu Jaan, a site meant to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Cheddi... more
The Caribbean: Destined to Grin and Bear the Consequences of Its Self-Created Vulnerabilities?
By Sir Ronald Sanders For decades, many Caribbean nations have grappled with dependence on a small number of powerful countries... more
Weekend Cartoon
