Sanitation Improvement Programme… Shortage of materials slows down project

Apr 15, 2014 News

As Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) sewage system upgrades slow down because of country-wide shortage of road repair materials, including the vital ‘crusher run’ stone, construction company
Nabi and Sons Limited is assisting the utility company in locating adequate materials.
At the moment, works are hampered, but GWI’s project team indicates that measures are being explored to ensure that road repairs continue despite this shortage.

One of the many scenes during road repairs at Light Street, Bourda Georgetown.

A team from GWI, including its Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh, Programme Managers and engineers visited a number of sites to inspect the roads, bridges and private property damaged during the US$10M Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP).
GWI has requested that contractors continue to ensure that the least inconvenience is caused to motorists and pedestrians and that all measures are in place to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Safety signs for motorists were also requested by GWI and the representatives of the contracting company indicated that this would be treated as a priority.
The sites visited by the GWI team includes; Waterloo, Wellington, Smyth and Light Streets, the junction of Hadfield and Haley Streets, Sussex, Forshaw, New Market, Regent, Barrack and Quamina Streets.
Residents in these areas made complaints of the inconvenience caused by the digging of the roads. The road-cutting exercise not only disrupted traffic with debris but also damaged parapets.
GWI Public Relations Officer Timothy Austin had stated that the company had published advisories in all sections of the media and had warned that those traversing the areas where works are undergoing would be inconvenienced.
Additionally, he related that the sand and loam fillings were only temporary measures taken by the water agency to ensure that the streets can still be used by citizens.
A senior engineer at the Public Works Ministry has noted that the Ministry is aware of the project and was aware of the inconvenience that would have arisen from the venture. It was further noted that before the venture commenced, the water company had informed the Ministry and was given the go-ahead for the project with the agreement that the agency, through its contractor, will resurface and recap all damaged roads and bridges after the works would have been completed.
This agreement with the construction agency will be for footing the expense of resurfacing the roads. The main sewage system in central Georgetown caters for about 50,000 residents. The project has been dubbed the Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme, and is valued at US$10M, which is funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Guyana.
The project is also aimed at helping to eliminate the transmission of neglected tropical diseases around the city as well.
The loan will be applicable for a five-year period and will help to fund four components of the project, the first being the rehabilitation of the Georgetown sewer ring main. The present upgrades are supposed to spread over 30 months, with an 18-month execution and a 12-month defect liability period.
Project Manager, Orin Browne, had stated that the country has an old system which has been in existence since 1929. That system has clogged up so much in certain parts of the city that it overflows.
He added that the total length of pipes to be laid is 12 kilometers.
GWI will be working in collaboration with the Municipality, the police and other stakeholders to ensure that there is minimum disruption.