Barge with equipment between Bahamas and Grenada -Benn

Aug 05, 2010 News

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Minister of Public Works and Hydraulics Robeson Benn yesterday whilst refusing to go into details says that it is a tropical depression “Colin” which has caused the delay in the arrival of the road building equipment for the construction of the access road to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.
The Minister did reluctantly reveal that the equipment is on a barge somewhere between the Bahamas and Grenada.
The Minister made the disclosure during a press briefing yesterday which was held with the Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall among other officials.
That briefing was held to update media operatives on the ongoing works as it relates to interior roads and the various interventions being made as a result of the excessive water damaging the roadway.
When this newspaper attempted to ask about the US$15.4M contract that has been delayed as a result of the fact that the equipment is yet to arrive, Hinds interrupted the reporter saying that, “I prefer that we leave that for another time.”
He said that he would prefer if the focus of the press conference were on the current inconvenience for people in the interior locations that have been affected by heavy rains.
Hinds suggested that, as it relates to the issues that were being raised on the delayed road project “give it some time and see how it evolves.”
He said that heavy rains would affect any such works and would have to be taken into account.
Benn at that time told the media operatives present that he has said in the past, and repeated it, that whenever the equipment does arrive they will issue a statement.
He said that all he could divulge at this time was the fact that there was a tropical depression in the Atlantic Ocean and that the transport of the equipment has been affected.
He deferred all other questions, such as whether all of the preliminary designs were submitted by Motilall and if any were accepted or even what kind of punitive measures would be in place should the extended delay have adverse effects.
President Bharrat Jagdeo at a recent press briefing when asked about the ability of Makeshwar “Fip” Motilall of Synergy Holdings Inc. to undertake the project given the fact that there is a lack of any evidence that he has built roads anywhere, said that the company was awarded the contract based on the recommendation of a technical evaluation team.
Jagdeo explained that he has made it clear that politicians must be kept out of the process of awarding contracts adding that Cabinet only gives no objections to recommendations made by the technical teams following their evaluations.
He suggested that maybe at some time in the future a meeting would be held with the members of the technical team that did the evaluation and made the recommendations to find out why Motilall was the best bid.
Senior Engineer and member of the evaluation team for that contract Walter Willis, when contacted about the President’s suggestion said that whilst he has heard of it, he is still not in receipt of any such instruction from Jagdeo.
Jagdeo said that he has seen issues against the contractor but “he (the Contractor) has to deliver or he will face the full penalty.”
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Ministry, M&CC set out on massive clean-up drives

Today, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will spearhead a massive collaborative clean-up exercise with members of the public and private sector entities, given the crisis situation as it relates to the accumulation of garbage in the capital city.
This was indicated by Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall yesterday during a press briefing.
According to the Minister, the various stakeholders who will be involved in the project will assemble at the Parade Ground between 07:00hrs and 08:00hrs and concerned citizens are invited to take part in the exercise which will target key points in the city.
The Minister conceded that ever since he took up that post he has never really, “gone over-board,” to have the business community active in the clean-up of the city, but that time has come given that the council is unable to do it and a lot of the waste is generated by businesses.
Lall, whilst not disclosing a name, says that one of the contractors on strike has agreed to come onboard and help, even though they are yet to be paid.
The Minister said too that there must be a change in the culture of the persons in the city to seek to hold the council to task and ensure that the Mayor and City Council do what they are paid for.
Lall did point out that the initiative is not a permanent measure but only seeks to address the current huge pile-up of garbage in the city.
Meanwhile, the importance of proper garbage disposal, environmental care and the issue of dengue fever are slated to be high on the agenda when the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown continues its public education drive today among city residents. The aim of the exercise, according to Public Relations Officer Royston King, is to encourage citizens to take responsibility for the health of their environment.
The sensitisation move takes on an integrated approach as several departments of the municipality are involved and will focus on various aspects of the exercise. This approach, King stated, will help the council to mobilise more resources and gather critical data on local communities in the city.
Areas scheduled to be targeted are Charlestown, Agricola, Campbellville, Kitty, Newtown and La Penitence. According to King, the exercise will seek to involve members of the private sector and non-governmental organisations and other community groups.
And even as efforts are engaged to sensitise residents, King said that the municipality has embarked on an enhancement programme in different parts of the city. The primary focus is to weed and desilt alleyways, drains and canals, levelling and weeding of parapets and trimming of trees.
King said the exercise will involve three engineers and 30 special project workers. He stressed that the council is urging citizens to become involved in the programme by desisting from dumping refuse on parapets and roadsides. In the meantime, he disclosed that the council’s collection vehicles are collecting waste on a fortnightly basis from communities.
In addition, the council has advised citizens who have available space to bury their waste as it could help to enrich the soil and could serve to elevate low lying surfaces in yards. This boosted enhancement programme is scheduled to begin by next week, King said.

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