Works ministry says will pursue police action against East Coast road contractor

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn said on Friday that his ministry is standing by its assertion that the contract for Lot 1 of the East Coast four-lane road expansion being executed by Falcon Transportation and Construction Services was terminated for fraudulent practices and failure to follow guidelines.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that the ministry will continue to pursue the matter with the police for appropriate action to be taken against the contractor because of the practices he committed.

At a recent press conference, Minister Benn noted that five out of eleven invoices submitted by the contractor from suppliers had blocked out invoice numbers and claims for the same items (steel) twice.

Additionally, GINA continued,  there were regular project meetings which were held either on site or at the Works Services Group during the period the contractor was on the project.

Moreover, there were repeated entreaties to the contractor and his engineer to execute work of the required standard and to correct substandard works.

The Public Works Minister also asserted that a number of tests submitted by the contractor were falsified, and the ministry only accepted tests for 7 and 28 days, GINA noted.

Evidence also indicated that test results submitted by the contractor occurred on days which his records show he did not pour concrete.

Meanwhile, Benn invited the contractor to present any evidence to support his claims of corrupt practices by the ministry’s staff to either the Public Works Ministry, the Office of the President, the Audit Office of Guyana or the Criminal Investigation Department of the Guyana Police Force, to seek redress.