Use of low-grade zinc sheets at Eccles Health CentreRegion stands ground as contractor pleads for payment

Sep 27, 2018 News

The Eccles Health Centre along the East Bank Demerara.

The Region 4 (Demerara – Mahaica) administration is not backing down from its position to withhold payment from a contractor on the Eccles Health Centre on the East Bank of Demerara.
Regional Executive Officer (REO), Pauline Lucas has refused to sign off on payments until the contractor replaces the low-grade zinc sheets used during construction.
The Eccles Health Centre project was awarded to Vision General Construction for $27.1M.
During a visit to the project, Lucas raised concerns as to why the contractor was utilising 28 gauge zinc sheets and not the 26 gauge which was in the bill of quantities.
It was pointed out that the 26 gauge is a superior quality and standard zinc sheet to the cheaper 28 gauge, which was used by the contractor.
Kaieteur News understands that the contractor is pleading with the region to release the payment on the promise that the zinc sheets would be replaced.
However, this is not sitting well and should the REO sign off on the payment she would be engaging in an illegal act as an accounting officer. She would be in fact accepting the low-grade zinc sheets.
There are cases where this has happened in previous years. More recently, officials in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) accepted a bulldozer which was different to the one which should have been provided by the signed contract.
Following articles in the media, the contractor in that instance, accepted responsibility and repaid the region.
Region 4 has demanded that the contractor change the zinc sheets. So far, the contractor has not complied with the region’s request.
The REO and regional councillors have also expressed concern over the slow pace at which work has progressed on the Eccles project, which was slated to be completed at the end of June.
An extension was granted and the project should have been completed by now.
The REO had expressed frustration over the manner in which some contractors were operating, thus resulting in her undertaking a number of impromptu visits to projects being overseen by the region.
“As the Accounting Officer for this Region, it is my responsibility to be vigilant and prudent and therefore let me warn contractors that sloppy and unacceptable work would not be tolerated by me. If they have the view that they can give us anything in Region Four and we would accept it, then think again, as I will not be paying tax payers’ monies for work that lacks quality, standard, and is executed in an untimely manner,” Lucas had previously warned.

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