Rehabilitatory works moving apace at Arthur Chung Conference Centre

Mar 16, 2017 News

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre had been closed since December 1, 2016 to facilitate rehabilitation works to the building. Based on information received work is moving apace in keeping with the original schedule.

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre

According to Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, the Conference Centre will be closed until February 2018. She said that as far as she knows, the foundation at the front of the building has been ‘dug up’ since it was a major area which was sinking.
This newspaper was later informed that the repair crews have completed the necessary assessments and measurements that will help with the design of the new sub-structures for the buildings.
Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Marjorie Chester, said that materials are arriving on time and workers are at their stations working to have the building ready within the 18-month schedule.
The Rehabilitation works are being funded completely by the government of China through a grant aid as was done when the centre was first constructed between 2004 and 2006. Guyana will only contribute to the provision of on-site security services.
The Ministry had debunked speculations last October regarding the source of funding for the project. According to the Ministry the terms and conditions for repairs to the structure were written into the agreements which were signed in 2004 which state unambiguously that the same construction firm will effect repairs to the interior and exterior of the main and adjoining building at no cost to the people of Guyana.
According to government’s assessment of the building, it was found that the more than 10 years of continuous use, wear and tear coupled with the effects of natural elements including shifting foundations and saline breezes from the Atlantic Ocean took a toll on the building.
It was said that the concrete stairways and floors on the upper level as well as ceilings are cracked in certain places. The foundation and walls on the ground floor also have widening cracks. As a result of structural movement and undulation, a number of the ceramic floor tiles have come loose.
The back-up generating system at the building had stopped working a number of years ago and is expected to be replaced as well. In February 2006, the building, originally named the International Convention Centre, was handed over to the government of Guyana by the People’s Republic of China.
It was renamed the Arthur Chung Convention Centre by President David Granger in May 2015, soon after the coalition government came to office.

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