Latest update November 27th, 2024 12:07 AM
Another twist in $800M contract…Unlikely all Surendra pumps are in the country – President Ramotar
It is unlikely that all of the large drainage pumps ordered by Government from an India-based contractor are in the country, says President Donald Ramotar.
President Donald Ramotar does not believe that all the large drainage pumps from Surendra Engineering are in the country.
The President was responding to questions from the media during a press conference at State House on Saturday.
There had been questions over the pumps since the US$4M ($800M) contract was inked in early 2011.
Under a Government line of credit from India’s Export-Import Bank, Surendra Engineering had been awarded a contract for the supply of eight fixed and six mobile drainage pumps to help boost the ones already in the system.
Surendra had been the contractor for the US$12.5M Enmore Sugar Packaging Plant. It was a surprise when that company, which had no history in the pump business, won the award.
With Guyana’s coastlands below sea level and with the bulk of farmlands located there, flooding has been a major problems faced by the country for years. The complex network of managed conservancies, kokers and sluices has been under pressure to manage the flood waters which have time and again threatened.
In 2005, a significant chunk of the country’s Gross Domestic Product was wiped out after a devastating flood damaged farmlands and homes. The pumps are part of the answers to the flooding.
Almost three years later, only one has been commissioned so far…at Rose Hall Town, Berbice.
According to President Ramotar, others have been completed at Skeldon and Black Bush Polder in East Berbice and at Lima, Essequibo Coast. Another one has just been completed at Paradise, East Coast Demerara.
Kaieteur News and other media houses have been questioning the delivery of the pumps and their locations.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and his other officials had been less than forthcoming and seemingly confused.
In a glaring case, the Minister had said that one of the fixed pumps was earmarked for Patentia, West Bank Demerara. He had said this on a number of occasions.
That was changed recently when questions were raised over the pump and its specifications.
The Minister then said that the pump there was one supplied by contractor, Harrichand Tulsi, who also constructed the facilities to house it.
On Saturday, the President said that under the government programme, 39 pumps will be acquired between 2012-2015. These include the 14 from Surendra.
With all of the six mobile pumps in Guyana, the President said that if the rest are not in the country, they will be here in the near future.
It was discovered that the pumps and engines were brought from different suppliers.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A psychological profile of a control freak
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- Imagine an official who believes he’s the last bastion of sanity in a world of incompetence.... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
