Works to modernise the sewerage system in East End and Road Town have resumed, officials announced last Thursday, although construction delays have cost taxpayers an extra $261,000.
On Aug. 12, 2010, then-Premier Ralph O’Neal signed a $1.9 million contract with CBE Engineering to provide engineering, project management and contract management services to oversee an estimated $45 million worth of sewerage works to be performed largely by petty contractors.
The work, which was to be carried out in five phases, should have been completed by Oct. 8 of last year, according to the 2010 contract.
But in a press release issued last Thursday, Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool described the project as “stalled due to difficulties experienced which included issues with land in East End and the caving in of soil during pipe replacement in Road Town.” The release did not elaborate on the “issues with land in East End.”
Premier Dr. Orlando Smith signed a $261,885.12 variance with CBE on March 20, to retain the firm’s services until Nov. 30, according to a copy of the contract filed with the High Court Registry.
For his part, CBE President Carvin Malone said that “98 percent” of the engineering works his firm was tasked with are complete and construction works on the collection pipe system are in “various phases.” The variance had to be issued, he said, because that portion of the contract was “time based” and time has expired.
“As soon as government is ready to release the construction works, then we go in and do the construction management,” Mr. Malone said.
See the April 25, 2013 edition for full coverage.
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