Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn has sent a senior officer in Region Four on leave and has ordered an investigation into the misuse of road works funds after an access bridge at Bee Hive on the East Coast of Demerara was found to be fragile and useless.
The bridge at Bee Hive which has been described as useless. (GINA photo)
The Government Information Agency (GINA) last night reported that Minister Benn, accompanied by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall visited the $1.1M bridge after receiving complaints about it.
Benn asked that an examination be done of the bridge by the Ministry’s Chief Engineer who found that the structure was not built to specifications.
“The bridge is not attached to the beams and instead of four inch screws, the contractor substituted three inch screws”, GINA reported the Chief Engineer as saying.
GINA said that the bridge will soon undergo reconstruction by the Ministry of Public Works’ Chief Engineer.
Lall said that the bridge is a regional project and that the Regional Executive Officer should have monitored the progress of construction and it should have been inspected before the contractor was paid.
Benn called on the relevant authorities to indicate to the residents the amount of weight the bridge can accommodate. At present the bridge can only take seven tons, the weight of an empty truck.
It is unclear whether the Region Four administration was part of the visit or had been notified of the decision to send the officer on leave.
Very commendable. But mpre firing needs to take place if this is now going to be the pattern. What about the counless substandard projects in so many regions: roads, schools, community centers etc etc etc? Misuse and abuse of public property. This bridge is a small project, only $1.1M. Or is it a case of being “Penny wise and pound foolish (or blind)?
E,
dat is nat a bridge…it’s a foothpath…all so known as a wak way.
let them rebuild it to spec. or refund the money, YES THE MONEY.
This is how the money goes. Waste, Squander, Payoffs, Kickback,This is the Perfect Way To Do Business. Waste Tax Payers Money.
Somebody better wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
since de early bird catches de worm de decided 2 sleepin late.
dis bridge brings back memory of de 40ft bridge burnham built and two days later there was no bridge ehehehehehehehehehehehehehehee…
It is de same bridge, just 20 ft shorter with less screws ehehehehehehehhe.
The sad thing is that there are so many things now happening that bring back memories, like 126 blackouts in B/ce.
peopl in berbice ent need ligh..dem bright already ehehehehe
So C’dians and residents of C’da need lights because they’re …?
Good story…
I don’t get it. Why would he construct a flimsy bridge? The evidence is there for anyone to see. Is it contempt for the residents and the powers that be would care less ? C’mon, build a bridge of which you can be proud.
G,
De all reddy build wan…it is kalled de berbice bridge.
It looks like Nutshell Bridge to me an everybody is benefiting from the taxpayers money except the taxpayers.
Why was this discovered only on completion? The court system should be used to have the faults remedied or to recover funds paid if the specifications were not met.
Good Job Mr Benn, fire him and hand him over to the police if he is guilty,,, The President is committed to get rid of corruption at all levels in Guyana…
gud jab Ben for sending de man on leave for a jab well done instead of firing he. De man should get a pramotion for saving de tax paya some money and fuh building such a strang bridge.
What happen to “In Process Inspections”? This is done during construction to make sure the contractor is following consstructal specifications. Now more taxpayers money have to be spent to correct mistakes. How many times before had these things not happen? Where are the preventative measures? Who is watching to make sure the people’s money is properly spent?
‘In process’ inspections? By whom? These so-called officers bear glorious titles such as ‘engineers’ but with no corresponding qualifications. Even if they did inspections likely they couldn’t see past their noses. City Hall has no architect, Housing has no architect, you all expect regions to have engineers??
an investigation should be done on bridges and the maintance of the road shoulders in Region 2 by Minister Benn.
3 newly built bridges within Maria’s Delight and Sommerset and Berks is shifting on both sides with an opening in the middle.