Dominica’s works minister Rayburn Blackmoore says he is serious about a fourteen-day ultimatum given to the contractor building the section of the airport road from Melville Hall to Pond Case, to speed up the process of construction to ensure that the June 2012 date for completion of the project is met.
Blackmoore indicated earlier that he was dissatisfied with the pace of the work on that project.
He told Dominica News Online on Thursday that progress on “Lot 2”, as the road in question is dubbed, was moving at a snail’s pace and that was just not good enough.
“We are not satisfied with the manner in which the project is executed on the ground,” the minister said.
He referred specifically to “the management of the site, and the pace at which the work is executed”.
The contractors – French company , Emile Gaddarkhan Et Fils – have been told that they are expected to meet the revised completion date of June 2012.
Blackmoore expects that by March 15 (in a week’s time) the contractors will have shown that they took the ultimatum seriously and have stepped up their game.
Responding to whether the sabre-rattling the government was engaging in on that matter would really amount to punitive action if the contractors failed to deliver, the
Works Minister countered that the administration was well within its rights to give the contractors timelines that it expected them to meet.
“In the event that we have to exercise the option of termination, we would ensure that all the systems are put in place to ensure that the project in itself goes on and actually is completed within the specific period of time,” Blackmoore said.
That assertion appears to be a clear indication that the government is prepared to move against the contractors if they fail to deliver in a timely manner.
Tell blackmoore to ask the Govt to pay Gardakhan for money owed simce 2011 and also the money after the layou disaster the workers need their money . After they pay then work will speed up.
The Chinese are paying so their project will move faster
No money slow work
E
They cyan do nothing to gadakan.Blackmoore like others in the cabinet have no idea where money coming from during election campaign. One hand cannot clap Blackmore. While blackmore runing his mouth kadakan already receive supreme blessings.wait and see how quick blackmore will change his story come June. Save this blog DNO for future reference
Publick Works would finish that job already Gadakhan left his work to undermine Publick Works and when he should be consentrating on his contract he block all the Asphalt and prevented us from making enough money so the coperation under water so is time for us to post mister back to Guadeloup and give our people the job that french man dont know what he doing that is poor construction fire the dog
nothing will happen cause at the end of the day they all will be handed an evelope of money
With all the respect that I have for you, on this one,Mr. Blackmore you are “playing dead to see how many people will come to your funeral”!!!
How many inspections has your ministry made during the course of this project? What of the monitoring? I mean you knew the time frame that was given for the completion of the project; it is surely not now that you should be making these statements:they are not even threats. And what are the consequences for the non completion date?
I travel the route DAILY and there is NO WAY this can be completed by June 30; after all today is March 9. There are about 12 bridges to be built along with the rest of surfacing etc.It would serve a much better purpose if you had stated what you will do when the deadline has reached and the work incomplete.
And people are saying you and the govt. have told the contractors to delay the completion in time for general elections due in 2014; is this true or just a rumour?
Unless work is done everyday and around the clock, this project will not be completed in less than 18 months.
Do have a good day nontheless, as you have spoken about this issue on at least two occasions!!
BUISNESS IS BUISNESS, GET THE JOB DONE ON TIME !!!!
Gaddarkhan take allu time. we are getting proper drains and land sloping, so doh worry what ppl say. if u complete lot 2 and its not done properly they still gonna gi u fire for it so, carry out ur plans the way thats best we doh want no re surface like the chinese on the coast
Stand your ground. You work hard at your game.
BUISNESS IS BUISNESS, FIND A WAY GET THE J.O.B DONE !!!!!!!
I think that they should give that job to the Chinese. Half of that pond case to Melville Hall road has not been touched as yet, so there is no way that it will be completed by June. Impossible!
Same bs different day,,,
lolol…….give me a break Mr Blackmoore…..while i agree the contractor should meet his deadline and the ministry should remind him of this…this just appears to be a bit of chest thumping by you sir….for a deadline of june 15th and the road is nowhere close to completion not by even the end of this year, you come out in march giving an ultimatum….nonsense….the ministry should be working with the contractor everyday from day one on such a crucial national project and therefore would have been aware a long time ago that there is no way he would meet that deadline…..u cannot come now and pretend that u are just finding out or realizing that the road wont be done by June 15th…..there must have been check points in this project like any other project to know where you are based on your schedule…so wheel and come again
I hope that the terms of the contract permit handing over the contract to another contractor, otherwise the government could face a long drawn out battle in court that could cost a whole lot more.
A contract of that magnitude should make allowances for unforeseen circumstances. Beyond that allowance, the contractor should be fined, probably $5000.00 per day of delay. Hope that payment is made upon completion of agreed upon phases, the largest of which should be made upon completion of the project.
It’s nice knowing that somebody cares. I’m impressed, Mr Minister!!
I am no engineering but base on my knowledge of this road work it is totally unrealistic to expect that this new deadline will be met. I am not for the contractor but I must say that this project is not as easy as it may appear.From pond case to concord this is generally one of the highest rain fall araes on Island, these guys have to cut,open the road,make bigger culvert crossings to accomodate more water flow. They met an area with some stone just after deux branche which still have not settled, guys this is not just a resurfacing this to me is where our best engineering skills are needed in this wet land areas.Asa user I would like it to be completed by this deadline in June but I am not betting on that.Apart from knowing that the project is behind schedule, have a real evaluation been done as to how much time is realistically needed all things being equal to complete this project?
Looking at this photos, I am seeing a potential problem. It seems like there is not corrosion protection on those steel reinforcement. Being at a see front, that is a harsh environment. These reinforcement should be at least epoxy coated. Or better yet some cathodic protection. If not don’t be surprise that that wall will start spalling and looking real ugly in the next 20 or so years. It may look good now, but for that kind of investment, you would want the wall to last longer.
Epoxy coating I agree. Cathodic protection no need unless there is stray current.
Seem like safety is of no importance to the craftmen , blackmoore and the engineer. One guy wearing a hard hat.
Why blame Gaddarkhan when we know the reason for the many delays is foul weather (read rain)and the party atmosphere in Dominica. One month of Creole/Indepedence partying, three weeks for Christmas, fours weeks for carnival and Easter will soon come–another week of idleness.
Should hard been included in the bid and baseline schedule
Blackmoore and his Govt are jokers. It was the same Government who awarded Gaddarkhan the contract for the second phase of the road project after complaining about the tardiness of Gaddarkhan on the first segment. In fact, the first phase of the road was not even completed when the second phase began.
We need a safe road, not a cut corners to meet deadline road, after all is the work construction safe and who is evaluating the quality of the work. Blackmore safety before deadlines.
Hey Blackmore. Why bother threaten? Its all in the family. Lets keep it there. Project wont finish until August but by then we will have another contract to award to him. Besides the average Dominican can take more punishment right?
Three major road rehabilitation Projects, but our local Public Works Corporation in financial distress. Little piece of work here and there for Public Works now. PWC workers getting problems for their wages/salaries. Public works we know built roads in Dominica from scratch in remote areas, rugged terrain and under difficult conditions.
What has the Minister done to alleviate PWC’s plight? If PWC, our local Co. wasn’t awarded significant, lucrative, sub-contracts in those road projects how will it make money otherwise to keep the Co. afloat? Only the crumbs they are worth, then. Public works employees are bawling.
PWC has a brand new, Asphalt Plant that cost millions of dollars. Who is providing Asphalt for all the road projects? Which foreign Companies were sub-contracted to lay asphalt on those road projects? Certainly not our local PWC. Instead of the authorities increasing PWC’s capacity to do such works or ensure that they receive serious sub-contracts, the foreign Cos. are the ones benefitting Big Time. But who cares? Believe me. Just another outburst. That is all. That is all. That is all.
I will remember never to correct you guys again when you have wrong information posted in your articles…..it is not nice what you did….shame on you!!!!!
I would like to know who is responsible for representing the interest of government on the project? Blackmoore comes and makes this statement but fails to mention under which clause of the contract could lead to it’s termination, serious about!
Certainly more bark than bite. As the saying goes, “Barking dogs seldom bite.” Dominicans go back to memory lane. Initially, before Gaddarkhan got permission from Planning Division, he had already gone ahead and imported the equipment for the asphalt plant. Planning Division publicly told us that Gaddarkhan had done something wrong. Yet after admitting that, Planning still gave him permission to build the Asphalt Plant close to the Layou community against the concerns of the entire village.
Interestingly, the local PWC was refused permission to build their plant there and rightly so. Layou Villagers protested against Gaddarkhan for health reasons, since an asphalt plant spews dangerous cancer-causing fumes into the air.
Planning Division, Govt., Environmental Health all sided with Gaddarkhan. They did not heed the warnings of or listen to the concerns of the poor villagers. He went on to build the Asphalt Plant anyway. DNO could verify what I am reminding Dominicans about.
Gaddarkhan cannot be touched by the authorities irrespective of how much they talk of delays, slow pace regarding the road project lOT2, or possible breach of contract. Of course Govt. is right to remind him of timelines. But that is as far as they can go. Trust me.
Witness the environmental disaster taking place in the Pagua River and the negative effects on the tourist industry. River tubing in muddy waters in the Pagua river as a result of works going on. Aren’t the authorities aware of that? People again have been expressing disgust and concerns. Gaddarkhan realize long time Bahyer Bas (the fence is Low).
Very interesting. At the time of the signing of the contract, in May 2010 the estimated completion time was given as 20 months. So by rights, that road should have been ready by the end of Dec. 2011.
Don’t be surprised if the completion will be carried out by messrs. Williams of Barbados. They were one of the leading contenders for the original contract and it is my understanding that it went to Gaddarkhan only because they threw a tantrum.
End June would fit in nicely with the the newly extended completion date of the Pt. Michel project by the same contractor, but more important still, it woud be a perfect reason for letting PWC provide the asphalt from their Anse Cola plant, which is underutilized. Watch this space!
if is Gaddarkhan that involve it MUST be the ASSPHAULT
LET THE CHINESE DO IT.
gadarkan can build roads and is the best road builder i have see in my lifetime, but he is very slow, i guest he does not want to much of a big work force(to save money)…. he also has more gutters,bridge extensions and preperations of that sort to do unlike the chinese, they would only cover the old existing road which would not last two years in that water logged place.
A TRUE LEADER
GREAT WORK BLACKMORE
We need to see some pictures of the road.
If you believe this man then you are as Dom as the word DOM-INICAN. I VOTED FOR THEM BY THE WAY.
A TRUE LEADER
GREAT WORK BLACKMOORE
I am a professional in the engineering field, and a lot of times, what is on paper is not is not what is encountered in the field. I have seen many projects here in the US resulted in significant delay during construction, because of what is encountered in the field. I am not familiar with this project or the skillfullness of the workers, but please do not sacrifice the QUALITY of the work in order to meet a deadline Mr. Blackmoore. Try to get down to the reason(s) for the delay (which I hope you did – but did not reveal) and see whether the pace can improve. If it is a matter of lack of manpower, maybe the Contractor can hire more people, but there are some problems that are not readily fixed. What was the price agreement? If the price was fixed, the Contractor would lose money if he prolong the work, because he has to pay the workers. My experience is that most contractors try to finish the job quickly when the price of the contract is fixed. However, some workers may deliberately work at a slower pace when they get paid by the hour (although they to comprise the contractor).
this is so true.. continue to educate those dummies
Yah Right
Just to remind those responsible that the road at Antrim (Lot 1) remains in a dreadful and dangerous state.
ANd when you hear that, no road sign or warning to tell you the road falling off around the next corner eh! That nearly hold me one night. I can only imagine how our tourists does drive those roads with their rentals. No speedbump warning until you right on the bump, no road signs to warn of ditches or narrow bridges up ahead. Nice road but proper signage is needed.
Blackmore and the DLP were advised on several occasions to complete the Campbell to Despot Road as an alternative route because of the pending disaster at Antirm Valley. I am sounding that call as well.
Why don’t you say it is because of a fault line, that area will continue to move so why pave it.
i agree mr blackmore was about time and stick to your words they doing to much what they want in dominca finish it or we will hand over the contract to another company
We mean what we say, when we say what we say!
the chinese work faster
Is qualtity we want, and on time! Not one or the other.
shutup zuzu
Dominicans don’t -all u ever do is complain complain its your national pass time
good. people need to respect deadlines here
i only hope that the push and expected speed does not reduce the quality of work
Give Blackmoore his jacket on that one! He has been consistent on this. I do not think we can doubt he is seriously concerned about the pace of work.
It’s about time. Let us see now if the bite is worst than the bark…
I watchin’ still!!!