The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) on Friday issued a clarification regarding the Belle Vue Pump Station, following a Stabroek News story.
The article stresses that “The Auditor General’s Report for 2023 says $160.8 million was paid to the firm headed by Mikhail Rodrigues known as `Guyanese Critic’ for the Belle Vue Pump Station works but up to August 14, 2024, no works were in progress at the time of the visit of the auditors.”
As stipulated in the contract, NDIA said the effective commencement date for the construction of the pump station was February 6, 2024.
In accordance with the contract and upon submission of a mobilisation advance bond, an advance of $129,831,525 was paid.
Subsequently, NDIA said works commenced with the construction of cofferdam and the removal of an old deteriorated sluice which was within the footprint of the work area for which interim valuation number one, totaling $31,062,903 was certified by the engineering supervisory consultant following which payment was effected by the NDIA.
As the works progresses, along with the supply of some of the steel sheet piles on site, greenheart piles and the installation of test bearing piles, the agency said interim payment number two, totaling $21,615,810 was certified by the engineering supervisory consultant following which payment was effected by the NDIA.
Notably, the agency said the project is still within the contractual period and the contractor is still on site. “The Ministry of Agriculture and NDIA with its Technical Officers have been meeting with contractors, including Tepui Group Inc. and consultants to ensure that projects are completed as per contract,” a statement issued this evening said.
It was further noted that engineers from the NDIA and the supervisory consultant are regularly visiting various project sites, overseeing work to ensure compliance with specifications outlined in contracts.
