State-of-the-art abattoir at Garden of Eden; new pump station for Greenwich Park

Seven contracts totalling some $665 million were signed on Tuesday by the Ministry of Agriculture as part of its lists of projects for the year aimed at improving agricultural services countrywide.

The contracts were signed and handed over to the contractors, who were reminded by the Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha that quality work is expected with no contract extensions.

“We are approaching the end of our project cycle and I want to encourage contractors to ensure you follow all the guidelines and abide by all the clauses in your contracts so that at the end of the project, we can have quality work and complete them on time.

“Some of these contracts that will be signed are multi-year contracts, meaning that they will roll over to next year. Our officers will be monitoring these works closely,” Minister Mustapha said.

But even with such a long deadline, the contractors were urged to mobilise works immediately as the projects are critical. Among the critical works outlined was the construction of a pump station at Greenwich Park/Barnwell area on the East Bank of Essequibo to the tune of $597 million.

This project, which is expected to be completed in twelve months, was awarded to Roopan Ramoutar Investments and will see the construction of two 100 cusec module pump station units inclusive of an R.C. sump, a structural steel pump house, the supply and installation of pump units as well as all ancillary works.

The project also entails the construction of a steel sheet pile revetment and the rehabilitation of the drainage system.

Contracts were also signed for the construction of a state-of-the-art abattoir at Garden of Eden to the tune of $22 million; the construction of an asphaltic drying floor at Lesbeholden, Blackbush Polder to the tune of $15 million; the supply and delivery of agro-processing equipment for Region Nine to the tune of $6.5 million and the procurement of 40 cassava mills for agro-processors in Region Nine to the tune of $2.8 million.

And further, as part of the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) project, a contract was awarded to R Persid Construction for the construction of a processing facility at the President’s College totalling $14,917,414.

This project, it was explained aims to provide a facility in which there is an enhanced capability to provide higher volumes and quality of chicken and vegetable products in accordance with international safety standards.