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Six contractors bid to complete Kato dorm project
(Kaieteur News) – Six contractors have submitted bids to complete the construction of the Kato Secondary School dormitory, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office has said.
The project, which would be spearheaded by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Eight is estimated to cost $120,730,286.
The companies that submitted the bids are Ullah & Sons General Contracting – $106,807,496; K&D Contracting Services – $104,041,938; Andrect Engineering & Construction Inc. – $118,565,522; A.A.V Ragoobeer General Construction & Unarmed Security Services – $265,440,709; Keron Evans General Construction & Transportation – $103,317,627; and P.R Enterprise – $20,106,000.
Images from the Auditor General’s 2024 Report on the Kato Secondary School dormitory back in July 2025.
This is not the first time the project was tendered for. In fact, the contract for the project was awarded in September 2021. At that time, the region’s Regional Executive Officer, Peter Ramotar signed a $285 million contract with Reiaz Akbar General Construction Services to construct the dormitory. The facility which was set to accommodate 300 students was expected to be completed within three years.
Former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall had witnessed the signing of the contract. The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported at the time that the minister informed the contractor, “It is our expectation that the project will be completed on time. The Kato Secondary School had some issues before… we would not like to negotiate beyond the contracted completion period.”
However, the contractor failed to meet the ministry’s expectation and was terminated.
The project was also flagged in the Auditor General’s (AG) 2024 report.
“As at 31st December, 2024, the sum of $249.995 was paid to the contractor,” the report disclosed.
The Auditor General detailed that based on physical verification conducted on 16th July, 2025, it revealed that no works were ongoing, while the contractual completion date expired since 2023 and no approved extension of time was seen.
In addition, at the time of reporting in September 2025, no measured works breakdown was attached to the Payment Vouchers presented and examined, the report stated.
“As such, works paid for against actual works completed and whether or not the contractor has been overpaid, could not have been verified,” the AG related.
Responding to the Auditor General, the regional administration indicated that the project encountered several setbacks. The region explained that “the annual rainy seasons (2022 -2024) created challenges as building materials were being trucked in thru’ the road which at times is impassable for weeks.”
“The contractor is in discussion with the office of the budget – capital- seeking solutions to issues that they have raised in relation to rising cost of materials over the period of the contract. The administration will do an updated assessment of completed works as recommended by the audit office,” the region said in the report.
It was reported that the dormitory was being built to support the $1 billion plus troubled Kato Secondary School which opened back in 2018. There were also delays in the construction of the Kato Secondary School with defects evident in 2012.
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