Government to recoup $1.2 M overpayment for Plaisance Market Tarmac

The Ministry of Communities is making efforts to recoup $1.234 million in overpayment from Compustruct Engineering Inc. for the construction of the Plaisance Market Tarmac.

According to Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrel advice was given by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to take the necessary actions to bring closure to the matter.

As such, a letter was sent by the ministry to the contractor on February 3, 2017, calling on the company to make the repayment by February 14, 2017, or face the consequence of legal action.

After February 14, 2017, the matter will be forward to the Attorney General’s Chamber for legal recourse.

The contract for the construction of the market tarmac provided for an asphaltic concrete surface along with shoulders and reinforced concrete curb.

A physical verification of the works was carried out on August 27, 2012, and based on the measurements taken on site and calculations, it was found that the construction did not conform to the Bill of Qualities, hence the overpayments.

The matter remained unresolved as at July 2015 and was addressed in the Auditor General’s 2015 report. Since then, it has been engaging the attention of the PAC and was again raised at a meeting of the committee on Monday, February 07, 2017 in the Parliament Chambers.

McGarrel, supported by the staff of the ministry and of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, appeared before the PAC to provide information on the matter and other information revealed in the Auditor General’s 2015 report, relating to the Ministry of Communities.

According to McGarrel, efforts to bring closure to the matter have been delayed by the contractor’s requests for a re-measurement of the market tarmac.