Fire threat forced design change for Mazaruni Prison after contract already signed - Ramjattan

Fire threat forced design change for Mazaruni Prison after contract already signed – Ramjattan

Dec 17, 2018 News

Fearing the threat of fire, the Government has alerted the Mazaruni Prison expansion designs even after a signed contract was in place for its construction.

The initial design for the Mazaruni Prison upgrade.

Works have been progressing slowly on the new structure, which has been reduced to two storeys. Originally, the contract was signed for the construction of a four-storey wing, but according to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, the new plan is for a two-storey structure.
“That was changed by the National Security Committee and the President saying that we would not have water for a four-storey and that it would be a fire hazard, so we have to redesign for a two-storey and expand the area where we will have the two-storey building,” Ramjattan indicated.
During Friday’s consideration of the budgetary allocation for the Guyana Prison Service, Ramjattan was questioned about the project being increased.
The Minister disclosed that, “At this time, we can’t envisage saving, but it will be around the same ballpark figure as the original design.”
The expansion of the prison has been budgeted to cost $709M in 2019 as well as a consultancy of $77M.
In light of the events that the public security sector faced, in 2017, the Government budgeted $30.7M in 2018 to support capital and recurrent projects and programmes.
Unfortunately, Government indicated that construction works at the Mazaruni Prison were delayed, due to overtopping of the Mazaruni River, which affected timely mobilisation by the contractor.
The contract was awarded late last year to Kee-Chanona Ltd of Trinidad and Tobago in joint venture with Guyanese firm, Nabi Construction Inc. The expansion of the Mazuruni Prison, located in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), has been on the table for some time.
Initially, the joint venture contract should have realized a four-storey building, self-contained cells, a recreational courtyard, dormitory style accommodation, classrooms and a library. The project was to cover a floor area of 68,500 square feet.
Prison officials have been struggling to accommodate inmates over the years. The situation was compounded when over 1,000 inmates at Camp Street Prison in Central Georgetown were displaced when inmates razed the facility during a daring escape in July, last.
Authorities rushed to set up temporary accommodations to house the displaced inmates. Some 450 prisoners were initially housed in a pasture at the Lusignan Prison before they were transferred to a new holding area, which was built to temporarily accommodate inmates from the Camp Street Prison.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News