With mounting complaints from road users about the slow pace of the road construction works along the East Bank Demerara corridor and major inconveniences, President Irfaan Ali on Sunday met with the contractor of the road project, China Road and Bridge Corporation, and the Government Officials overlooking it along with the supervising consultants.

The meeting followed a major build up on Friday and Saturday that left some vehicles remaining at the same position for almost two hours, while persons on their way to the Cheddi Jagan airport had to walk with their suitcases on the road.

The incident has angered the President who, noted that that enough effort is not placed on contract management and the workflow plan and as a result, tremendous hardship is being caused to people using the road and said he will no longer tolerate what happened a few days ago.

“I have spoken to the Ministry of Public Works on many occasions, I have spoken to the contractor, I have spoken to the consultant and every time we fix one issue, the emphasis on the comprehensive management of the project which includes the workflow plan, opening sections of the road and completing those sections before going and open up 10 and twelve sections, I said they must complete the drains. This is the last time I intend to speak to the contractor and consultant,” the President warned.

The President said the consultant and engineer are equally to be blamed for the continued traffic problems around the project and has announced some systems to bring ease to commuters.

“And if the contractor can’t get it right, I am ask the AG to examine the terms of contract and have you dealt with. From the policing perspective, I have asked the Police Commissioner to put a permanent posture in that entire stretch of road, with a controlled containerize system that will be supported by our drone team and to have drone management of the traffic,” the President said.

The President said while the project is expected to cause some disruptions, the disruptions noticed recently is unacceptable.

“There must be a daily work plan discussed with the traffic control team and whatever areas are opened overnight must be ready for use the next day. We are not going to accept the type of contract management we have seen in the last four days,” the President stressed.

President Ali urged the police to fully enforce the laws, especially against truck drivers who create extra lanes during peak hours causing further disruptions.

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