Three contracts were signed last Friday amounting to more than $167M by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the respective contractors at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that the first contract which was granted to Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP) involves the supply of a hydraulic excavator, a 12-month warranty on parts and labour, one excavation bucket and one cleaning bucket costing over $24M.
MACORP also received a second contract amounting to $91.9M which includes the supply of two No. D6R track-type, angle-blade bulldozers, with 12-month warranties on all parts and labour; and training of operators. Each of these contracts for this entity has a three-month duration.
GINA said this is the first time bulldozers are being bought by NDIA but the equipment is needed to clear dams since private contractors often have to be used.
The third contract for the supply of a pontoon, four hydraulic spuds, six tie posts and four mechanically-operated winches has a six-month duration and costs approximately $50.8M, and was given to Courtney Benn Contracting Services.
Last week, while in Abary, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud had said the NDIA will be contracting a company to construct a second pontoon to enhance the capacity of the authority since many outfalls needed desilting on an ongoing basis. He had noted that since there was only one such dredging device, one area had to be foregone for another.
In 2008, GINA said, NDIA had constructed a special 250-tonne pontoon specifically to clear silted outfall channels. With the use of two long-reach excavators mounted on the pontoon, NDIA was able to continuously dredge the critical sea coast sluices in Regions Three, Four and Five.
Currently, this equipment is working in Abary and after a certain amount of work is completed it will move to Mahaicony and Mahaica. And in view of the excellent work done by the equipment, a second pontoon was considered, GINA said. The new pontoon to be constructed will be fabricated with a much improved design to allow for self-anchorage and to fully utilize the two mounted excavators.
According to GINA, NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth said that in preparation for the rainy season outfalls at Hague, Den Amstel, La Jalousie and Windsor Forest have been dredged. Preparatory works are being carried out also at Black Bush Polder, Region Six, and Canals Polder in Region Three and Cane Grove, Region Four.
