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Govt. seeks to recover millions from contractor for failed Supply Health Centre Project
The Ministry of Communities has advised that Region Four Democratic Council (RDC) seeks to recover millions of dollars paid to a contractor for the construction of the Supply Health Centre, East Bank of Demerara.
The project was previously halted by Region Four’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Pauline Lucas, after it was discovered that the contractor – Navin and Sons – cast the foundation of the building without removing a tree stump.
The REO has since moved to terminate the contract.
The stalled Supply Health Centre project
“I wrote to [the contractor] outlining the results of the recent tests that were done and indicated to him that he would have to redo the foundation at his own cost. However, he indicated to me that in his view nothing was wrong with the foundation and therefore he saw no need for the foundation having to be redone,” Lucas told a recent meeting of the RDC.
It was noted that the Auditor General’s office also conducted a test on the foundation which revealed similar findings of the region. She disclosed that based on the recommendations of the Senior Engineer and the Auditor General’s office that the contract should be terminated.
She further stated that she wrote the Ministry outlining the issues and sought advice on the way forward.
“As such, the Ministry wrote me and accepted my recommendation of terminating the contractor with the contractor being tasked with repaying the region,” Lucas stated.
The contractor is said to have received about $18M on the project which was inked for $30.1M.
However, Councillor Mazarool Majeed, who sits on the government side queried as to what would become of the foundation if it is to be redone. REO Lucas noted that it would be part of the Region’s letter to the defaulting contractor to bear the cost of dismantling the column and foundation.
However addressing added concerns with regards to the re-advertisement of the same contract, APNU/AFC councillor Amarnauth Chickan questioned as to whether the new building would be done on the same foot print of the existing foundation.
“I believe that our engineers should go out and examine the areas properly so that a decision can be made about the site,” Councillor Chickan said.
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