City awards contracts for restoration  of community grounds, bridges

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Thursday awarded $24 million in contracts for the restoration of three community grounds and two bridges in the city.

Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore announced at a press conferences that the West Ruimveldt Community Ground, the East Ruimveldt Community Ground, the Agricola Community Ground and two bridges along Laing Avenue are to be rehabilitated.

Stabroek News understands that the projects will be financed through the $24 million subvention provided in 2018 but it was the Finance Committee of the council which awarded the contracts at its budget meeting of February 7th, 2019.

Asked how the five contractors were identified, Mentore indicated that a “three quote system” was used, with pre-qualified contractors being invited to bid. He was, however, unable to explain how and when these contractors were “pre-qualified”

The majority of the projects were approved for Constituency 13 (East and West Ruimveldt). In this constituency, two playgrounds are to be rehabilitated at a total cost of $11.2 million. The West Ruimveldt Ground will be renovated at a cost of $7.7 million, while the East Ruimveldt Ground will be rehabilitated at a cost of $3.5 million. The two bridges will be renovated at a cost of $3 million each.

Meanwhile, in Constituency 15 (Meadow Bank – Agricola), the Agricola Community Ground will be rehabilitated at a cost of $7 million.