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Govt. is lacks engineering expertise both in the D&I and Sea Defence sectors

Aug 28, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
The award of the Stanleytown Pump Station should have been re-tendered
I refer to a letter in Kaieteur News dated 23/08/09 on the above project by Dr. A. Singh the Finance Minister and in my opinion it was highly irregular for a contract to be awarded based only one bid.
Dr. Singh did not mention if there was an engineer’s estimate for the project. It is very easy via the Internet to obtain a quote from the US for the cost of the pump and for the Government to purchase it and then tender for a quote for its installation. I am sure the Government would have received many quotations.
This will remove any connotation of hanky panky with the tender. The manufacturer normally supplies installation instructions and wiring diagram for the pump.
It is no big deal to install the pump, since all you need is a qualified electrician and a foreman with mechanical know how, a few labourers and a lifting crane with supervision from the engineer.
I am sure it would have cost far less to supply and install the pump.
That is how all the pumps were installed along the coast during the 60’s and 70’s.
I am also concerned about the repairs of the two pumps at Liliendal. These pumps among several others were purchased in 1969, installed in 1977 as well as repaired I believe, on at least two occasions by the City Council.
It is ludicrous to spend US millions to repair these pumps that have passed their life expectancy of 25 years. One of the pumps also had holes in it.
It would have been far cheaper to purchase new pumps and install same as described above. All you have to do is lift out the old ones with a crane and install the new ones and make adjustment to tie in to the discharge pipe outlet through the sea defence coping wall. The existing electrical sub station would have required some minor upgrading.
The money remaining from the Liliendal Project would have helped in the cost of re-conditioning the main supply drain, cleaning of the basin etc to maintain adequate supply of water so not to burn out the motors of the pump.
It is evident that the Government is lacking in engineering expertise both in the D&I and Sea Defence Sectors.
Malcolm Alli

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