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Work will continue to improve Moruca Bridge – Minister Persaud
San Jose Bridge in Moruca
While admitting that the work done on the San Jose Bridge in Moruca, Region One, has been poorly executed, Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud has announced that efforts are underway to improve the condition of the crossing.
Last Sunday, the Alliance For Change (AFC) described the $43 million project a catastrophe, as members of the political party lashed out at the contractor for the substandard work done on the bridge.
The issue was highlighted after AFC Member of Parliament Valerie Garido-Low, Region Eight Councillor Niem Gafoor and Andrew Correia made the discovery on December 31, 2013, while on an Outreach exercise in Moruca.
After their arrival at Kumaka Landing, the group met with residents and had a first hand view of the revetment stretching across to San Jose from the Kumaka Bridge.
This bridge was supposed to be “properly completed” within seven days after MP Garrido-Lowe had asked the question of Minister Ganga Persaud in Parliament at the last sitting of the House on December 19, 2013.
It was reported that persons, who had to do business on either side of the Kumaka Bridge were forced to walk through this thigh-high, muddy water fetching their shopping bags, or, in the case of one young woman, carrying her baby on her hip while the other arm was stretched out for balance.
However, on Monday Minister Persaud announced that work will continue on the bridge as soon as the weather improves.
“I am highly sympathetic with residents of Moruca, Region One, particularly school children who have been severely affected by the state of the adjoining road to the bridge over the last two weeks.”
“The contractor was initially hired to execute works on the bridge, but after that was completed, there was a request for the approach to the bridge to also be upgraded since it usually floods,” Persaud added.
He explained that “a proposal was taken to Cabinet and approved for the replacement of the revetment and land filling. However, the original contractor was awarded the deal since he was already on site.”
“Here is where the problem started. We went back, we checked… but the contractor was not keeping within the specifications and so he had to do remedial work. Having done that remedial work, heavy rains came, and the work was stalled”
However, Minister Persaud further explained that a sub-contract was awarded to another person for the sand filling and capping of the approach to the bridge.
“As soon as the weather improves, work will continue,” he announced.
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