Hope Canal misses another deadline

Jul 09, 2014 News

– Penalties to be discussed with contractor – Agri Minister

As has now become customary, the $3.6B Hope/Dochfour Canal has missed its June deadline for completion. Another cut-off-date is more than likely to be earmarked when Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy meets with the contractor this Friday. However, it appears that patience has worn thin and the penalty clause may be imposed, as the contractor has failed to complete a certain aspect of the project, the outer sluice, by its last deadline.

Dr. Ramsammy had reportedly explained that there are several aspects of the Northern Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour East Coast Demerara that have to be completed before it could become operational.

He told Kaieteur News yesterday that the Head Regulator aspect, which was being constructed by BK International, and was at a 95 percent completion stage three months ago, is finally complete.

As it relates to the state-of-the-art wrench, Dr. Ramsammy noted that since the completion of this component was dependent on a delayed aspect of the overall project, the Agriculture Ministry made some modifications. This includes an adjustment to the system originally intended to open the doors of the Head Regulator. The new system, for which the wrench is required, will allow for easier opening and closing of the door.

“The wrench should be here anytime now. That was purchased by us (the Ministry), and the contractor is waiting on it. So when that comes, we will deliver it to him. It will take just about a day to have this installed.”

Three months after the Minister made this comment, the wrench has not arrived in Guyana.

Heading out from the conservancy onto the East Coast Demerara Public Road, the dams, the Minister had said, have already been shaped and the berms (the flat strip of land bordering a river or canal) are approximately 70 percent complete.

Dr. Ramsammy confirmed yesterday that progress has been made in this regard as over 90 percent of the work is completed.

During his brief interview with newspaper, he went further to state that the only thing left to be completed really is the outer sluice, which he also said is 85 percent completed.

“I am working with the contractor right now to see what his plans are and then we will decide whether we will agree to his plans or not. The meeting is expected to be this Friday,” the Minister said.

When asked if there will be penalties instituted for the contractor failing to finish the outer sluice by the June deadline, the Minister said, “We agreed to discuss penalties at the meeting.”

A Partnership for National Unity’s Shadow Minister with responsibility for the Agricultural sector, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine told Kaieteur News yesterday that, “The amount of deadlines this project has is quite tiresome.”

“I don’t know what the sanctions will be for the contractor, but I do hope that they are substantial. This project should have been completed a long time ago. It is an intolerable situation and this project to begin with was controversial. I am still not convinced about it and I maintain that the improvement of our very own outlets would have been a better option.”

Nonetheless, in a previous report where the Minister explained the operations of the Canal, he said once operational, excess water will flow from the Head Regulator and into the canal where it will travel out to the public road, under the Bridge at Hope village, to be released into the Atlantic Ocean via the eight-gate sluice which is being constructed by Courtney Benn Construction.
Construction of the Hope/Dochfour Northern Relief Channel was embarked on by the former Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who projected an 18-month completion period after construction started in February 2011.
Late last year Dr. Ramsammy announced an extended completion date – June 2013. This was extended to August 31, and later to December 2013. Works still remained uncompleted and the deadline was extended to April 2014 and subsequently to June.

The Hope Canal project has been deemed to be one of the largest infrastructure programmes in Guyana’s history. It has been purported that the relief channel would have the capacity to withstand floods greater than that which occurred in 2005.
It is being constructed to ease the pressure of water on the East Demerara Water Conservancy at times when it reaches its maximum capacity, releasing it into the Atlantic Ocean, via the sluice.

Latest News

Hope Canal misses another deadline

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 13th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Ramnath sets tone for WI ahead of opener

Seales dominates but Shakeel, Rizwan lead...

Youngsters impress as final day draws near

BCB/Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi U15 Inter Club...

Windies captain Brathwaite stresses bravery,...

In-form Savory dazzles on second day with classy...

Features/Columnists

Burnham must be having a good laugh

Clarifying misconceptions about the Panama Canal

Exim 4% rate

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Hope Canal misses another deadline

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 13th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]