GWI denies contributing to delay of EBD four-lane road project

May 22, 2014 News

By Latoya Giles
The Guyana Water Company is denying that its pipelines have caused a delay with the multi-million-dollar East Bank Demerara four-lane expansion road project.
Contrary to what contractor BK International said on Monday, GWI said yesterday that the relocation of pipelines was delayed by the construction of concrete drains by the contractor.
The company said yesterday that it “strongly denounces statements made by representatives of the contractor responsible for the East Bank four-lane project which indicated that GWI is contributing to delays in the completion of the project”.
According to the GWI, the company was provided with the original plan for the four-lane highway and executed all works required by the utility to allow for the progression of the project.
The company was subsequently informed that there would be changes to the original plan for the highway. According to GWI the changes included the construction of concrete drains at specific sections of the Highway. “We indicated to all parties involved that the construction of the drains would significantly reduce the space available for the utility’s PVC mains” the company said yesterday.
Further GWI said that during discussions with their project team and the project team attached to the Four-lane Highway project, it was agreed that GWI would relocate the pipelines behind the concrete drains which are to be constructed. It was also agreed that GWI would execute this upon completion of the concrete drains.
However, GWI said that the utility has been unable to relocate the pipelines since the construction of the concrete drains at specific sections of the Highway has not been completed
“The statements implicating GWI in the delay in the project are therefore erroneous and the company asks for a retraction of the statements by the contractor’s representative,” the water company noted.
They have since disclosed that they are in possession of documentation regarding the aforementioned facts and wishes to reiterate that the company has at all times responded to all requests by the Four-lane Highway project team and has provided all necessary assistance towards the success of the project.
On Monday last BK International disclosed that the company loses approximately US$10,000 daily due to a delay caused by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. BK International was awarded a contract to complete Lot Three of the East Bank Road Project. The multi-million-dollar project was expected to have been completed almost two years ago, but has been stalled.
However, according to Julian Archer, BK International’s Chief Engineer, the blame for the delay must be placed solely at the feet of GT&T. The telephone company is yet to come out with a statement on the matter.
Public Relations Officer, Allison Parker on Monday had promised a statement on the issue on Tuesday. A second call on Wednesday, Parker said that the company had not completed the statement. She told Kaieteur News that it is expected that it would be completed today.
Lot Two of the road expansion was awarded to Gaico Construction to the tune of US$5,802,640. However, with the adjustments to the design, the contract may cost an additional US$800,000. In this section the contractor had to transform cane-fields into roadway. The layout for the roadway has been completed. The contractor has begun works to the existing East Bank Demerara Public Road.
Meanwhile, BK International is executing works in Lot Three of the road project. The original contract sum for this section is US$3,444,060. The modifications in this section are costing Government approximately US$800,000.
The cost for the modifications in Lot One is currently unknown.

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GWI denies contributing to delay of EBD four-lane road project

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