‘Stick to deadline for remaining work’ – said a CJIA contractor

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill hired China Harbor Engineering Company and officials from Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Friday

The Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, has warned China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) to adhere to the strict timelines set for the completion of outstanding works at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Currently, CHEC has failed to complete 34 out of 71 essential items by December 31, 2020 as previously agreed. Only 13 of those items were made by Thursday, January 7.

Speaking at a meeting with CHEC officials at CJIA on Friday, the Department of Public Information (DPI) told Minister Edghill to the contractor, “the new things have to be done to do as well as the old items to be found” w put it together and if we find slippages, I’ll have to make the necessary intervention because we can’t allow for a last minute rush. ”

The Minister’s statement was in response to CHEC’s pledge to complete the 21 outstanding critical items by March 31.

“The Guyana Government in good faith made that agreement with China Harbor Engineering Company and we signed a friendly settlement agreement requiring action on both parts. We have confirmed that our end of the deal is so noble and sincere. As a Government, we expect nothing less from it [CHEC]. ”

CHEC was therefore pressed to submit a Resource Allocation Plan to Government by January 31. at the latest. This plan will produce guidance for the Ministry on how CHEC intends to implement its obligations within the agreed timescales.

The contractor was also encouraged to complete the preliminary designs for the curtain walls, a corridor to facilitate the two air bridges and a superstructure for the building in front of the airport.

Preliminary designs for these items are expected on 31 January and final designs are expected in March.

“We need to get those because we need to agree to them [So, we can] procurement begins and we start work.

“We know how long the civil work has been taking you and we can’t quite think that if we start in October we will finish by December 31 [2021]. It’s not going to happen and we’re not going to tolerate it, ”said Minister Edghill.

Better communication

Minister Edghill also called for better communication among the contractor, project manager and project engineers as this is essential to resolve any issues that may arise quickly.

To this end, the Minister said that he and the CJIA’s CEO, Mr Ramesh Ghir, and the project consultant would meet with all parties involved to resolve any issue.

In terms of ongoing works, Minister Edghill admitted that there may be challenges at the airport to carry out contractual work while the facility is operational, but said that work must go ahead.

In this regard, he said “there must be someone who works closely to ensure that there is proper planning ahead of time so that we can make the necessary adjustments.”

In the meantime, Project Manager Mrs. Carissa Goodings, Mr Ghir and other staff representing Government interests for their commitment to seeing the project come to fruition in full.

In December, the Government brokered an agreement with CHEC for the company to undertake $ 1.8 billion in work on CJIA at no additional cost to taxpayers.

This was a major breakthrough for President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali Administration as the PPP / C has criticized the APNU + AFC, in and out of the National Assembly, for reducing the scope of the original contract signed in 2012, thereby changing briefly. Guyanese.

The project is years behind its completion date and the new agreement sets December 31, 2021 as the date by which all remaining work must be done so that taxpayers could have value for money.

Additional work agreed by CHEC includes:

Extension of the airport residential corridor to accommodate two other passenger boarding bridges, providing a total of six boarding bridges to the airport capable of serving aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, the Airbus and similar trans-Atlantic aircraft .

Extension of Terminal Building to accommodate additional commercial space such as food courts and duty free shops. The expanded building will feature a modern airport facade covering the full length of the Departure Terminal.

CHEC has also agreed to rectify and complete all remaining remedial works within prescribed timelines.

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