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GGMC peeved at $600M construction tab

Feb 14, 2013 News

Management of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is livid with Cabinet for ordering it to spend more than $100M to buy the defective High Street building that was originally slated for the Labour and Human Services Ministry, and forcing it to spend at least US3M to make the building habitable for its 300-plus staff.
Sources said yesterday that the Agency is even more upset because it has just spent millions on a new building in its Brickdam compound that would have taken care of overcrowded offices and cramped conditions under which staffers now work.  At the said time, the Agency is planning to hire more field staff to monitor the interior, adding to its current level of 125.
Added to their financial burdens, the GGMC may be left with hefty utility bills as discussion on the issue of internet, water, telephones and electricity payments has not occurred. GGMC might also have to knock their stomach since the charge to repair the unfinished High Street building has been estimated at a whopping $600M.
The Mining Agency will also have to complete and remedy the serious engineering defects that come with the new location. Kaieteur News was told that load testing will have to be performed at the High Street location since the Agency is concerned about capacity capabilities in accommodating staff, machinery and visitors. The publication was told that while capacity should be at 50 pounds per square inch, the location may only accommodate 35 pounds.
Kaieteur News was also told that while all this is occurring, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment might be moving a small contingent to occupy two floors at the GGMC Brickdam location.
The High Street building has however had its share of potential owners. Initially, the multi-million dollar building where the old Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) headquarters was located on Princes and High Streets was designated for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
There was however a change of plans to accommodate the Ministry of Health after a tragic fire destroyed that Ministry some years ago.
It was later reported that the building would instead, facilitate other government departments but this too, proved to be an unexecuted initiative.
The unfinished building currently requires substantial repairs to its interior and exterior. There are still windows and doors to be installed. Ceiling and other interior repairs such as cubicles, and other work spaces are undone.
When Kaieteur News visited the location yesterday, labourers were preparing for the commencement of construction works by putting materials in place.
The GGMC is however peeved at the cost that they will have to bear in repairing and completing construction works which the initial contractor had left undone. The High Street building has however been standing unoccupied for at least two years now.
In a release from the Natural Resource Ministry, it was said that efforts are ongoing to strengthen the human resources and technical capacity of the GGMC, coupled with the need for additional staff and services resulting in several components of the Commission such as the laboratory, library and other support services which will be relocated to the 44 High Street building.
The release said that the, “Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), an agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is currently expanding its monitoring and compliance of mining operations in the various mining districts to complement the rapid growth of the mining sector.”
As a result, they said, a Technical Evaluating Committee is currently reviewing bids for the design and rehabilitation of the said High Street building to accommodate upgraded laboratories, cartographic section, and library.
The release said that the GGMC has also completed the rehabilitation of two buildings at Upper Brickdam, one which is the stores to house spares and other supplies and the other, the administrative building which will accommodate staff of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which provides support and guidance to the Commission.

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