Contractor receives $45M to build doctor’s quarters in Port Kaituma - completes less than quarter of work

Contractor receives $45M to build doctor’s quarters in Port Kaituma – completes less than quarter of work

Nov 08, 2018 News

The Auditor General has recommended that steps be taken to recover sums of money paid to a contractor who started work on a doctor’s quarters at Port Kaituma, Region One but failed to complete it.
The contractor was hired to construct buildings for the Ministry of Public Health in Region One as far back as 2016.
And according to information highlighted in the report, the contractor failed to complete the project despite being advanced more than 50% of the contract sums.
The 2017 Auditor General’s report, noted that based on the ministry’s capital expenditure, the Doctors’ Quarters at the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex were not only incomplete but the works done were valued at far less than the money paid over to the contractor.
“The contractor received payments totalling $45M or 72% of the contract sum as at 31 December 2016. Physical verification of the works on 30 August 2017 revealed that actual works measured only $14.768M or 24% of the contract sum,” the report said.
According to the report, approval was granted by the National Procurement Tender Administration Board, (NPTAB) for the award of a contract in the sum of $458.341 M for the construction of doctors’ accommodation at the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex. The Engineers Estimate was for $62.291M. The contract was signed on July 19, 2016.
The contract stipulated the commencement date of the project as 14 days after the signing, with a duration of 18 weeks and the defects liability period of six months.
However, the works were not completed and there was no evidence that extension time was granted to the contractor.
As such, the Audit Office has recommended that the head of the budget agency present a letter of termination to the contractor to recover any amounts overpaid on the contract.
Earlier this year Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, expressed dissatisfaction over the works at the new Port Kaituma Hospital.
The Minister, following a visit to the Region One health facility, admitted, “We are a little disappointed with a few areas…the doctors and nurses quarters. We are having challenges with the contractors but those are matters we will deal with in the coming week.”
However, the ongoing works are not all disappointing as the Minister has also shared her satisfaction with all other aspects. “We are at the stage where we are happy with the performances of the other contractors…their works are about 80 per cent completed.”
The Minister said, “We are going to make a few adjustments and that will be done by a team that will meet in the upcoming week so that we can ensure that we can put all the finishing touches.”
While the main building of the hospital was long completed by R. Bassoo and Sons Construction Company, it was revealed in April that the works being undertaken by six other contractors were lagging behind. The contractors were given three months to complete their respective works.
The contractors responsible for other aspects of the project are Alvin Chowritmootoo, N and A Constructions, Cummings Electrical, Satar Mohamed and Son Construction and Hardware Supplies, J. R. Edmondson Building Works and Integrated Works. The Supervisory Consultancy firm for the project is Kalitech Inc.
While Chowritmootoo is tasked with completing the mortuary and administration building, N and A Constructions are responsible for the Infectious Diseases building. Cummings Electrical is tasked with the electrical works, Satar Mohamed has responsibility for construction of the nurses’ quarters and J. R. Edmondson has been contracted to construct the doctors’ quarters.

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Contractor receives $45M to build doctor’s quarters in Port Kaituma – completes less than quarter of work

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Contractor receives $45M to build doctor’s quarters in Port Kaituma – completes less than quarter of work

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