First batch of equipment en route to G/town

Jul 15, 2010 News

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… Amaila Falls Road Project

Following revelations by Head of State, Bharrat Jagdeo, that Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall was behind schedule on his contract to build the road to the Amaila Falls, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, yesterday refused to divulge much more during a press briefing yesterday.
When pressed for information on the details of the delay in the schedule Senior Engineer and Ministerial Advisor, Walter Willis, did say that the first 35 pieces of heavy duty equipment required to be used in the construction of the road was en route.
He did say also that the equipment is due to arrive by July 21, next, and is just the first batch. It was also pointed out that some of the preliminary designed required have been provided.
“Why would I want to elaborate on anything the President says?I am not discussing that…If he is already behind schedule that is a statement of fact.”
This was Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn’s initial reaction to questions as it relates to the questions about the road project.
He then said that when the equipment arrives the appropriate announcements would be made adding that the President has made a statement of fact.
Media operatives did manage to learn that the majority of the preliminary designs have been submitted and are currently under review and the remaining designs should be submitted today.
“But we are not discussing this anymore…I am not answering more questions on that road,” said Benn as he cautioned Willis to stop sharing any more information.
Several attempts following that to try to illicit any more information about the project proved futile.
The Amaila Falls road project, awarded to Synergy Holdings, has to start “now” to ensure financial closure is met by the end of the year for the substantive hydropower project. President Jagdeo made this announcement during the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Jamaica.
Synergy Holdings, whose president is Motilall, has been awarded the US$15.4M project to build roads and bridges necessary for the start-up of the Amaila Falls Hydro project, but the award of the contract has come under question and work is yet to start three months after the award of the contract.
“They are one week behind time, but that is just submitting some information,” Jagdeo had stated.
According to Jagdeo, the project sponsor, Sithe Global, has to deal with the financial closure of the project.
According to Rafael Herz, the Sithe Global Project Manager for Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, “The total cost of the dam, powerhouse, transmission line, and substations is estimated at US$650M (including an estimated US$190M for the transmission line and other supporting infrastructure).”
The contract awarded to Motilall has been shrouded in secrecy as officials fail to disclose to timely information.
There has even been court action filed and is in the process of an appeal as Raymon Gaskin is seeking to have the project pulled from Motilall.  The project includes some 110km of virgin road through the forest as well as 85km of road where trails already exist.
According to the agreement signed with NICIL, Motilall must produce a continuous, all-weather road to be built incorporating existing roads where possible and building new ones as needed to accommodate automobile, bus, and heavy truck access from Georgetown to Amaila Falls.
However, the timeframe for the completion of the road seems impractical, says a senior engineer. According to the engineer, completing 110 km of road in eight months (240 days) means constructing some quarter of a mile of finished road daily, a tall order if one is to clear virgin forest.
Motilall is also responsible for the construction and supply of a pontoon crossing on each bank of the Essequibo River at or in the vicinity of Butakari and on the Kuribrong River at or in the vicinity of Portage Falls in accordance with the specifications set out.
The pontoon must be capable of carrying 100 tonnes minimum. The roads (whether new or existing) must also be capable to carry 20 tonnes/axle with the design maximum unit carrying capacity of 100 tonnes.
All roads must also be stabilized and capped with a minimum six inches of laterite or similar materials compacted to 95 per cent proctor and suitable for use as the final wear surface.
The Request For Proposal is described as a rather loose document given that it did not demand that the bidder have equipment, machinery or experience.
Motilall eventually submitted the lowest bid from among four tenders submitted. The team found that he was a most responsible bidder.

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