Minister Edghill assures Barticians stelling will be completed soon

─ Leguan stelling over 50 per cent completed

Residents of Bartica are being assured that the stelling in the township will soon be completed. The assurance was given by Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill on Monday.

Minister Edghill said some policy decisions will have to be made on the way forward with regard the stelling.  The contract was awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd to the tune of $240.3 million in 2016, under the APNU/AFC Administration.

He said since then, there have been problems with the contractor and the implementation of the project.

“We had engaged the contractor at the highest level and he had committed to getting the work done. So, when I say there is a policy direction, we have to come to a position of saying whether we continue to wait on the contractor or we terminate and put a new contractor in place,” the minister said.

I would like to assure the people of Bartica, in 2022 , movement on the Bartica Stelling will be done. It is something that is part of our budget 2022 proposal and we expect in 2022, 2023 the entire Bartica stelling should be completed. Whether it is done by the old contractor or we go to a new contractor, but we are moving towards getting it completed,” Minister Edghill declared.

Meanwhile, Project Manager at the Ministry, Jermaine Braithwaite said the Leguan Stelling is about 55 per cent completed. The rehabilitation of the stelling is being undertaken by S. Maraj Contracting Services to the tune of $413 million which was signed back in September, 2018.

“There are some major aspects of the expanded portion of the stelling which we call the northern section which we are projecting will be completed by latest May of this year. It is 160 by 130 feet reinforced concrete stelling deck. The major part of the work would be undertaken in 2021 and the contractor has to install 228 prestressed concrete piles of which he has installed fully about 180… we are projecting substantial completion of the project will be May of this year,” Braithwaite said.

Minister Edghill in September 2021 visited both projects and had then expressed his disappointment with the pace of construction. Both structures were expected to be completed at the end of 2021.