$163.9M contract cleared for Herstelling road, water works

A multi-million dollar contract was given the green light by the administration for the construction of road structures and the installation of a pure water network at Herstelling, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, during his weekly briefing at the Office of the President, announced yesterday that a $163.9M contract was given the go-ahead by Cabinet.

Reports are that the project will set the foundation for housing development in the area on land which was purchased by the administration from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Luncheon stated too that Cabinet has given the go ahead for several contracts aimed at strengthening the drainage and irrigation aspect of the agricultural sector, specifically the main drainage structures around the country.

A major contract which he announced is a $286.4M contract for the supply and delivery of geo-textile material for the construction of the East Demerara Water Conser-vancy (EDWC) Northern Relief Channel and associated drainage canals at Hope/ Dochfour on the East Coast of Demerara.

Work on the much debated relief channel had been moving at snail’s pace, with challenging weather patterns being cited as a factor affecting the outcome of works so far.

Other contracts which will be up for tender are:

– a contract valued at $30.2M for the procurement and supply of Caterpillar hydro–excavator and bulldozer spare parts for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)

-a contract valued at $20.05M for the excavation of drainage canals in Region Two in the Lower Pomeroon, an area which had been hit severely by recent persistent rainfall

– the supply of a super hydraulic excavator valued at $34.7M

– a contract valued at $45.7M for the construction of a drainage structure at Eastern Hog Island

-a contract valued $45.3M for the expansion of the sluice at Grove/Diamond on the EBD

– a contract valued $89.1M for procurement and supply of two reconditioned track-type bulldozers, and;

-a contract for the construction of an embankment and similar structures at Palmyra/Ridge and Bush Lot on the Essequibo River island of Wakenaam.