KINGSTON - Representatives of the Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Industry have lauded the firm stand taken by the Minister of Public Infrastructure to hold contracting firm H. Nauth & Sons accountable for the defects found on a 12 kilometer stretch of the East Bank Berbice Road.
Representatives from the Chambers which included the Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce & Industry (UCCCI); West Berbice Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WBCIC); Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) and Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCC&DA) indicated that should all ministers do likewise, a higher standard of works would be realised.
“If we don’t draw a line we will keep getting substandard works. If contracts were administered correctly things would go better. Work should not be awarded based on low tenders, this had led to substandard and delayed works” Mr. Rafeek, one of the representatives opined.
The representatives suggested that when engineers are preparing estimates for projects in Berbice, they should factor in the cost of transporting materials to the area as this would have an impact on the overall cost of the project.
Patterson noted that sometimes things were not being done in accordance with the Procurement Act. He said the Act empowers the procuring agency to object to a contractor’s estimates and his ministry will now have to make objections if they find the need to so do.
H. Nauth & Sons Construction Company has been given seven days by the Ministry to complete corrective works to the East Bank Berbice road.
This no-nonsense approach taken by the Ministry will apply to all projects.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will be providing funds to have the entire East Bank Berbice Road completed to its new standard which means that sidewalks and road signage will be included.
