How NIS Berbice Branch costs $69M...There was a $400,000 septic tank

How NIS Berbice Branch costs $69M…There was a $400,000 septic tank

Sep 13, 2011 News

Following revelations that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) needed a whopping a $2.6M to construct a generator hut for its Corriverton branch, yet another obscenely overpriced item has been found.
According to an Engineer’s Estimate released by the Office of the President, a septic tank was projected to cost $413,420.

An Engineer’s Estimate prepared by NIS proposed a septic tank should be of these specifications and costs.

However, independent contractors and engineers say that on an average, inclusive of labour cost, a septic tank should not cost beyond $85,000. These are septic tanks with walls made of hollow blocks and filled with cement to strengthen them.
Then there are the more expensive ones that involve the pouring of cement to construct the walls. These walls are entirely solid and have no hollow blocks. These, according to contractors, should not run more than $150,000, inclusive of labour costs.
According to Engineer’s Estimate, the septic tank should have been 15.5 ft long, five ft wide and five ft deep. It should also have a five feet by 2.5 feet deep filter box attached. Yet even for this item the dimensions seem to be in question since the very next line of the Bill of Quantities calls for the construction of a 12.5ft long by 7ft wide by 5ft deep septic tank.
It was apparent that NIS’ estimate allowed for the pouring of mix concrete, instead of the blocks.
For that item some $198,000 alone was provisioned for pouring the cement.
It will be recalled that following the announcement that the NIS branch cost $69M and the subsequent questions that arose, Kaieteur News published pictures of three homes which were built for staffers and which cost less than $7M each.
The newspaper had requested from Head of the Presidential Secretariat and NIS Chairman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the details of the costs of that $69M facility.
Dr. Luncheon, in turn, requested that the newspaper provide the Bills of Quantities for these homes.
The newspaper and the Office of the President then exchanged documents with the latter providing the Engineer’s Estimate for the NIS Building.

The half of a million dollar septic tank at new NIS branch at Corriverton, Berbice.

On Tuesday, media workers including Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris were both refused entry to that Corriverton branch.
The security on recognizing the newsmen immediately shut the gates and later disclosed that NIS’ General Manager, Doreen Nelson, had ordered that they be kept out.
The Branch Manager, Louise Bryan, was seen hiding at the back of the NIS building.
The Engineer’s Estimate for the entire project was $50,667,948. Based on this estimate, tenders later went out for local contracting firms to submit bids.
Government, who commissioned that Corriverton facility late last month, said that the completed structure cost NIS $69M.
In light of the many questions, Kaieteur News over the weekend offered to conduct an on-site post-construction audit to determine whether the $69M was well spent.
The newspaper has also asked for a copy of the engineering drawings, which was never provided by the government and copy of the payment certificates detailing the work completed that was paid for.
There has not been a response as yet from government.

9 thoughts on “How NIS Berbice Branch costs $69M…There was a $400,000 septic tank”

claude50 September 13, 2011 at 11:49 am

I think its the VAULT out there…..
amorb September 13, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Keep at it KN. You are doing a great service yet nothing seems to come out of it. It still goes on. Does Engineers need to be in jail.
british666 September 13, 2011 at 3:20 pm

is there a law in guyana where corrupt government officials can be held accountable for they worngdoing when found out?(few went to prison here in the uk re corruption)
1. RaAmen September 13, 2011 at 5:07 pm
  
  Sorry there’s none in guyana.
bishnuR September 13, 2011 at 4:31 pm

$413.000 THAT IS A LOT, AND THEY THEIFING FROM THAT TOO.IN SOME COUNTRIES THEY WOULD LOOSE ONE HAND, NOW GUYANA WOULD LOOK VERY FUNNY ,
jamario September 13, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Keep the coruptors on the toes,. This is the normal practice of this regime, rape coffers. it been so for ages .it was in the early 2000s when they built a health centre on the west coast of demerara the fencing of cost more than cost of building the centre of itself . that fence made of ….they just got bolder in their trade guyana got more white collar bandit than fowl thief u just cant touch them
1Falcon1 September 13, 2011 at 5:01 pm

The NIS board should stop wasting contributors money and start fast tracking all those pension applications that is filed under pending. Also, they should move swiftly to bring contributors record up to date so that they will receive their maximum pension. I hope this contractor has paid his fair share of taxes.
maninthebush September 13, 2011 at 9:05 pm

You know what i noticed in the pictures the side windows were open, why was that? Why have A/C with open windows?
Gale Sampson September 13, 2011 at 11:29 pm

revelation time ha ha , they will not like that