| BK International contracted to widen the East Bank Demerara Public Road into a four-lane thoroughfare is not taking responsibility for the slothfulness of the project that causes daily traffic jams. In fact, the company cited numerous requests to the project’s consultancy team requesting the removal of utilities.According to the company’s Public Relations Consultant, Kit Nascimento, in a press statement yesterday,Cheap Jerseys China, “BKI wishes to point out that the current traffic congestion on the East Bank Demerara Public Road is not in any way related to or affected by the construction works currently being carried out by the company.”Almost daily, even without the presence of machinery carrying out works on the roadway, commuters are faced with mile-long traffic congestion. From observation the turning lane into the Diamond Housing Scheme is limited because of construction works. Vehicles destined either for inside the housing scheme or Grove sometimes forms one long line.A Government official said that the contractor and engineer were told to complete a section of the roadway to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic since the inconvenience is known.A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joe Harmon, who understands the plight of commuters called on parties involved to hasten the pace of the project. He suggested that the workload was probably too much for the contractor because of the numerous projects being undertaken at the same time.Nascimento said, “BK International further wishes to point out that the assertions made by APNU Parliamentarian, Mr. Joe Harmon, with regard to the delays experienced by the contractor on the construction of the expansion project, are grossly ill-informed and irresponsible.“Had Mr. Harmon taken the time to consult with BKI and with the Ministry of Public Works,Cheap MLB Jerseys China, the company would have readily placed the facts causing the delay at his disposal.”Without providing a date as to when the project is expected to conclude the press statement addressed the numerous appeals made by the contractor for the relocation of utilities.According to the release, the contractor began works on the project in January 2012 but was forced to suffer continued delays caused by the failure of the client (Government) to make adequate and timely provision for the removal and relocation of the public utilities within the project area.Nascimento made it clear that the company cannot proceed with its project construction if public utilities, such as power lines, gas lines, telephone lines and utility poles, are not removed and relocated by the contractors engaged to do this work.However, during an interview with Public Works Ministry Engineer, utilities (telephone, power lines, and water) were removed. The only possible hindrance that remained was the gas lines but according to the engineer, following discussions with management of the Demerara Distillers Limited it was decided that a sleeve would have to be placed over the gas line that is near the bridge.According to Nascimento,Cheap Jerseys From China, “BKI has written numerous letters of complaints from the commencement of the project to the Resident Engineer and Team Leader of the Consulting group responsible for this project registering its concern about these delays.”Apparently, since February 2012, the failure to relocate utilities preventing the contractor from proceeding as scheduled would result in the company claiming costs and extension of time. This has been placed on record.“BKI has pointed out to the Consultants that the company has been required to maintain a full complement of personnel and equipment on site while being unable to proceed with planned construction activities at considerable loss and expense to the company,” Nascimento added.“Since that time, BKI has been forced to constantly and continuously write the Consultant. The company has pointed out that, particularly in the area between DSL and the Diamond Housing Scheme intersection, the concentration of utilities servicing commercial banks, a petrol station, a beverage company, installed by GWI, GPL and GT&T are a cause of major delay.”According to Nascimento,China Jerseys, last year June, the company notified the Consultant and Government that it “will suspend all works on the project with immediate effect” until the matter of the relocation of utilities, still to be solved, had been addressed.“However,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, in the interest of the project,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, BKI did not suspend works. The Consultant was written again in August last year, again in October and again in November,” he said.Nascimento stated that the consultant was written to in March by the company placing its readiness to begin works at the Diamond High Bridge. But, the relocation of the gas line servicing DDL and water mains under the bridge had not been decided on.“This major hindrance to the progress of construction work on the project continues to exist and is completely out of the control of the contractor. In addition, a late introduction varying the contract for concrete drains on the carriageway have further delayed the contract,” Nascimento added. |
