Almost $400 million in contracts signed to boost agriculture sector

With the aim of boosting several of the governmental agencies within local agricultural sector, nearly $400 million in contracts were inked on Wednesday between the Ministry of Agriculture and seven companies.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of 12 contracts were signed between five agencies under the Ministry’s umbrella and seven companies for the supply of machinery, procurement of pumps, the construction of bridges in different parts of the country and for the provision of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), refrigerated trucks, and infrastructural upgrades to the Satyadeo Sawh Aquaculture station.

The contracts awarded were as follows:

General Engineering Supplies and Services Inc. signed two contracts totaling $151,535,640 for the procurement of mobile pumps and the supply of two engines for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

GSK Excavation Services Inc. was also awarded a contract totaling $36,804,275 for the construction of a control structure and revetment at Kamuni in Region Three which also forms part of the NDIA’s 2021 capital projects.

N&S Engineering and General Construction was awarded three contracts for the construction of a check structure at the Burma main drain for $12,156,144, and the construction of two reinforced concrete bridges, one at Yankee, Mahaica, and the other at Basket Plimper, Mahaicony for $14,053,872 and $13,138,944 respectively.

Farm Supplies Limited has been contracted to supply one long-reach excavator at a sum of $64,000,000. Those contracts form part of the budgeted projects for the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) 2021 capital expenditure.

Marics & Company Limited was contracted by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) to supply and deliver one specialized vehicle for disease and animal treatment. That contract sum is $9,396,878.

Doodnauth Construction and Supplies was awarded a contract totaling $39,912,372 by the Fisheries Department for the construction of concrete ponds, a fence as well as some amount of road work at the Satyadeo Sawh Aquaculture Station.

Marics & Company Limited signed a contract for the supply of three new all-terrain vehicles (ATV) at a sum of $5,950,800. Automobile Power Products inked a contract to supply 13 motorcycles at a contract sum of $3,185,000, and Ideal Auto Inc. was contracted to supply two new refrigerated trucks at a cost of $19,380,000. These vehicles from these two companies will be used to improve the extension and other services of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC).

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha underscored that several interventions are needed in the agriculture sector, due to the importance of the sector. As such, these contracts were issued and awarded.

“With the passage of the budget, we now have a number of programs to implement during the course of the year in order to get going with our work program. We are heading into the second quarter of the year and it is important for us to ensure these works are completed in a timely manner,” the Minister said.

He reminded those contractors that the Ministry has had some unfortunate experiences in the past due to contractors failing to complete projects within the stipulated timeframe. He gave the example of the koker being constructed at Little Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), which was awarded since 2017 and remains incomplete.

“You’ve all expressed an interest to supply these goods and services and as a Ministry, we have to ensure these projects are executed to enhance the lives of the people of this country,” Minister Mustapha said.

The subject Minister also said that the products and services that are to be provided are seen as critical. He told contractors that they should work to meet their contractual obligations within the given timeframe as the Ministry does not plan to extend any contract period.

“The equipment that you have to supply is very important the works are critical so I’m hoping that you will put your best efforts forward to have them done within the given timeframe. We do not desire to have any of these contract periods extended and we’ll also be monitoring the execution of these works to ensure they are done according to the required specifications,” Minister Mustapha said.