Latest update February 24th, 2025 8:57 AM
Govt. hopes for job creation as $2.9B in state contracts approved
-several Sophia, city roads for rehabilitation
Government this week gave its no objection to over $2.9B in contract yesterday, saying that it will help to create employment in the communities.
Government says that it has approved contracts for the supply of furniture for this $1B-plus school in Kato, Region Eight.
Several city roads in Tiger Bay and Water Street, Sophia and Ruimveldt, as well as sea and river defence contracts are expected to start before year-end, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced yesterday.
The Sophia road repairs will be accompanied by street lighting.
Speaking during the post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon disclosed that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI), which is charged with the transportation sector, has been working overtime to ensure the contracts are prepared so that work can begin.
He noted that there were contracts for the supply of furniture to Kato Secondary School, Region Eight.
The administration has been expressing unhappiness over the cost and quality of work. The project was launched by the previous administration.
Government had been projecting final costs to reach over $1B, by far the most expensive school in recent times for the country with the opening not expected until next year.
Harmon noted that while Cabinet’s no-objections for contracts for supplies of furniture have been given, a key report by the Ministry of Education and MPI analyzing the costs of the Kato Secondary are to be submitted and studied by the Ministers.
He said that a $276M contract for the supply of spares for the country’s ferries will go a long way to continuing the life of the aging vessels.
In the meantime, he disclosed, Guyana has managed to acquire an Indian line of credit to buy two ferries that will be placed on the North West District route.
The Minister yesterday also urged residents to pay close attention to the work being done by the contractors and to report any problems to the inspectors, and even the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and to the Regional Democratic Councils.
He also disclosed that it is the expectation of the administration that jobs will be created.
As a matter of fact, Harmon said, the contractors have been urged to hire workers from the communities they will be in.
The state contracts will be among the biggest clump approved by the new administration since it took office in May.
There was a slowdown in the issuance of contracts, one of the big spinners of the economy, as the new Government moved in August to pass its budget.
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