Work on the Leguan Stelling has stalled in the face of an impasse over funds between the contractor S Maraj Contracting Services and the government.
Sattrohan Maraj of S Maraj Contracting Services said in response to a question from this newspaper that the project was 98% completed, with only work on a link span to be finalised. However, that was stalled over payment for work already done – a sum of some $50 million – and also money outstanding to complete the stelling.
Maraj said that through his communication with the Ministry of Public Works, he understood that the minister might need to go to cabinet for money. “I don’t know how long that will take but until they pay us for works complete we can’t move forward because remember I explained earlier that there were other things that wasn’t catered for.”
Contacted, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill told this newspaper, “I have no comment on the Leguan Stelling against what I have said before. The contractor has an obligation to complete the work at the agreed prices, period. I have no further comment. [That’s] my position and that’s government position.”
Maraj had stated that work would only recommence when the money was paid. He added that what was left of the project could be completed in two weeks.
The Leguan Stelling contract, valued at $413,259,260, was signed in September 2018 with S Maraj Contracting Services. The timeframe for its completion was six months. Work began in December 2018, but was suspended in March 2019 by an order of the Transport and Harbours Department, which raised several issues.
On November 6, 2019, a recommencement of work was ordered, but in February 2021, under the new PPP/C government, Edghill terminated the contract over poor performance.
In March 2021 S Maraj Contracting Services was sued by the state, but this was settled out of court and in December 2022, work began again after a new contract was signed.
