Road Project Frustration Major Story In 2011

Wed, Dec 28th 2011, 11:19 AM

It was a bumpy ride in 2011, fraught with numerous diversions and delays, all as a result of the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP).  The project dominated headlines in 2011.

In September, members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Assembly started a probe into how public funds were being spent on the project. The Nassau Guardian later learned that the PAC found the project would eventually cost the government $154 million, $40 million more than budgeted The PAC's report also revealed that funds for the project would be depleted by April 2012 and that it was not expected to be completed before September 2012.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said in December that the project was over-budget because of high oil prices, additional works for the Water and Sewerage Corporation and the prolongation of the contract works. He said the government would seek a $50 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to complete the project.

"A detailed breakdown of all of the works and costs will be provided to Parliament on January 23," he told reporters.

"We are going to be making an application to the IDB for a loan of $50 million to conclude the project.

"I might tell you that had the project been concluded when we first started it before we got kicked out of office, the Bahamian people would have paid less than $60 million for the project as opposed to the $119 million we signed the contract for, because the price of oil had gone up by $50 million by the time we got back into office to do it."

Earlier in the year, members of the Coconut Grove Business League (CGBL) had their case against the government -- which they won in 2010 -- overturned in the Court of Appeal. Business people, especially those on Prince Charles Drive and Market Street, also claimed their businesses were suffering as a result of the project.

In August, Prince Charles Drive business owner Fred Rahming became so upset over the closure of the road directly in front of his business that he attempted to stop workers from closing the road. Others like Dionisio D'Aguilar, president of the Superwash laundromat chain and chairman of AML Foods Limited, called for the government to admit that the Argentinian contractor José Cartellone Construcciones Civiles (JCCC) was responsible for the road works mess.

During this time, the project expanded with multiple corridors being worked on, including Market Street, the East West Highway, the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre Highway, Prince Charles Drive, Wulff Road and Baillou Hill Road south to name a few. Ministry of Public Works officials told reporters in September that no more roads would be dug up.

That same month, however, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) said that it would eventually have to dig up the recently paved roads to do maintenance and expansion work. Ingraham said provisions were not made for BEC to be able to maintain or expand its network without digging up the streets.

Ministry of Public Works officials claimed they requested companies and corporations during the planning phases to voice any special needs or concerns and noted that workers have been installing based on the information. Some workers on the project told reporters in November that they were on go-slow because they were 'overworked and underpaid'.

However, after only 10 of them showed up at a planned 'mass demonstration' the workers' campaign lost momentum. Attorney Wayne Monroe, a member of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), said he planned to represent approximately 50 of the workers in court to take action against JCCC. Director of Works John Canton admitted the ministry was not happy with what JCCC was paying workers.

Officials opened the roads for the Christmas holiday period, but indicated that some may have to be closed again eventually so work can be completed.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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