| … Delays in Amaila Falls’ road projectA controversial US$15.4M contract to build access roads to a major hydro project at Amaila Falls continues to be way behind schedule, with only three months to go, and the delay could jeopardise ongoing financial negotiations.As a matter of fact, attempts by the contractor, Synergy Holdings Inc., to outsource some of the works to meet a September deadline, are not finding much success.Government is hoping to close the financing deal before the year is out.While Government had given the green light to Synergy Holdings Inc. on October 5, last year, to start work, the work is only one-third completed, says Walter Willis, Senior Engineer of the Ministry of Public Works. Willis is supervising the works on behalf of Government.There is less than three months remaining…the deadline is September 9.Makeshwar 'Fip' MotilallWalter WillisIn April, the government’s spokesman, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, expressed the administration’s dissatisfaction with the progress Synergy Holdings Inc. was making with the construction of the road to Amaila Falls.He had said that Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall, the Principal at Synergy Holdings Inc., is “hopelessly behind” schedule and they have suggested that he start to contract out certain components of the project.According to Dr Luncheon, no effort is being spared by the administration to get Synergy Holdings to complete the road, according to design. Motilall was also responsible for the road design.The Cabinet Secretary said that this concern has led to suggestions and “even demands for them to contract out components of the road way.” At the end of February, Dr Luncheon had told media operatives that “the government couldn’t help but be concerned about the delays,” as these relate to the construction of the Amaila Falls Road Project currently being undertaken.At that time Dr Luncheon had said that Motilall should be very worried because the design of the contract stipulates stringent penalties.Trouble, delaysHowever, according to Willis yesterday, Synergy is having trouble with its sub-contractors.One contractor was hired to drive timber piles for 15 bridges…not one bridge has been completed to date.“The sub-contractor has been tardy and completed not one bridge of the 15.”Synergy Energy also attempted to enter into an agreement with Netram and Sons, another contractor, to move laterite, a road building material, but this has not worked out too well.Questioned about the fact that Government had built-in special clauses for liquidated damages in the now likely scenario of Synergy not delivering on the road project, Willis noted that while that issue can be addressed, the more important one right now is how the delay will impact on current negotiations with potential financiers.Synergy not getting the roads done in time will “jeopardize closure of the project,” Willis said yesterday.Already, Willis is making it clear that neither he nor the Ministry of Public Works is to be blamed.“I solemnly say that it will not be Walter Willis or the Ministry of Public Works to be blamed for something wrong.”Willis may be making his argument from the fact that he is one of three parties involved in the road networks. The parties include the government, the contractor and the supervising consultant.Failure of any of the parties to work in sync could jeopardise any successful contract, one engineer explained yesterday.Synergy’s competenceFrom the time it was announced that government had awarded the road contracts to Synergy Holdings, there have been intense questions from this newspaper and citizens alike over the competence of that company and its chief executive, Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall, to carry out the project.However, Government insisted that he has built roads in the US, though there was no immediate clear research evidence to back this.Faced with bad weather in the interior and reportedly with inexperienced staff, the rumblings over the project had continued. The rough terrain reportedly has also proven another daunting challenge for Motilall and Synergy.In April, two excavators that were being used to clear away trees were stuck in swampland for over a month.An official had laid the blame on inexperienced foreigners who have been employed to operate some of the excavators.“What is beating the company is (the presence of) inexperienced staff and inexperienced management.”The official has suggested that the company needs to employ more local staff, who are familiar with the terrain. As at the end of May, the crew was working in an area with a long stretch of swampland,Jerseys NFL China, located some 20 miles from Linden.The breakdown of the project awarded to Synergy Holdings Inc. states that the upgrade of 89km of road will cost US$3.9M; the 110km of roadway through virgin forest; US $7M, the two pontoon crossings or a bridge will be US$1.5M and ‘T’ line clearing is said to be US$3M.Hand in Hand Group of Companies is the company that has backed Synergy Holdings Inc. with the US$3M mobilisation and security bonds which were a prerequisite to securing the recently awarded Amaila Falls Road contract.The road that Synergy Holdings is building is to pave the way for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project which is described as just part of a larger effort to revolutionise Guyana’s power generation infrastructure.However, the successful conclusion of the road project in a timely manner is reportedly linked to the search for financing for the 160-megawatt hydro facility. The roads will be critical to take heavy equipment and supplies to the proposed hydro project site at Amaila Falls, Region Eight. |
