The Ministry of Public Works and Communication recently awarded four contracts for sea defence works in the Coren-tyne, East Bank Berbice and at West Canje.

Damaged sections of the seawall located behind the Corriverton Market, on the Corentyne. (Photo courtesy of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

The contracts were awarded under the National Funded Programme of the Sea and River Defence Division, a press release from the Government Information agency (GINA) said on Monday.

The release came following a complaint on August 6 from the Upper Corentyne Chamber that a stretch of seawall was in a deplorable state and that repeated attempts to engage the Ministry of Public Works on it had been futile.

The GINA release said $467M was awarded for the construction of 810 meters of rip-rap river defence at Line Path, Corentyne which will be done by B.K International Inc. The company was also granted a $5.2M contract for the rehabilitation of a River Dam at Lochaber, West Canje.

Additionally, a $5.9M contract was awarded for the rehabilitation of a River Dam in Sisters Village; while another valued $6.6M was awarded to M&B Construc-tion Company for the rehabilitation of an earthen Embank-ment at Glasgow, East Bank Berbice. Works are expected to start soon.
Meanwhile, tenders for the maintenance of the grouted boulder slope at No. 78 Village and Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, Regions Six are scheduled to be opened on Thursday. The ministry is also awaiting the award from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board for the construction of 110 meters of river defence at Moleson Creek.

According to GINA the ministry, through the European Union (EU) is funding the reconstruction of 200 meters of sea defences at No. 77/78 Villages, Corentyne at a total cost of 13.5M Euros. B.K. International Inc. was awarded the contract and works are to set to start before year-end.
Works under the Sea and River Defence Division are being executed in three categories: Foreign Funded Programmes, National Funded Programmes and Maintenance Programmes. The Division has categorized the sea defence works into eight districts: District One, Essequibo Coast; District Two, Wakenaam; District Three, Leguan; District Four, West Demerara; District Five, Timehri/Mahaica; District Six, Mahaica/Abary; District Seven, Abary/West Berbice and District Eight, Corentyne.

To date, a lot of work has been completed including the construction of 600 meters rip-rap sea defence at Sea Spray, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, Region Three; river defence works at Craig, East Bank Demerara, Region Four; the construction of rip-rap sea defences at Belladrum/Hope West Coast Demerara, Region Five; river defence works at Gangaram Village, Region Six and gabion basket groynes at Riverview, Region Ten.