…final cost could double original US$15.4M – APNU’s HarmonA section of the Amaila Falls road, with one of the many crossingsBy Gary EleazarThe cost of building the Amaila Falls access road, for which government had originally issued a contract to Makeswhar ‘Fip’ Motilall’s Synergy Holdings Inc, for US$15.4M,Cheap NHL Jerseys, will in the end possibly double and the latest on December 30 deadline for completion will not be met.This is the conclusion of A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU), Joseph Harmon, who along with party colleague, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, Alliance for Change (AFC) David Patterson and Senior Technical Engineer Charles Sohan,Cheap Jets Jerseys, was provided with a site visit of the road construction.The visit was facilitated by the Ministry of Public Works at the behest of Head of State, Donald Ramotar.Harmon, speaking with this publication following the visit yesterday, said that given the revelations, the party will be looking for full financial disclosure, not just on the road but for the entire Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, which he opines will reach more than the US$840M currently being touted.The APNU Shadow Minister for Public Works informed this publication that the most troubling section of the road is that of ‘section seven’ for which the contract was recently awarded to China Railway.That contract, he said,Wholesale Football Jerseys China, is for US$8.5M; significantly more than had been proposed by Motilall, who had received the contract to build the entire seven sections of road for US$15.4M.Harmon says that the party has since been in receipt of a copy of the contract, which it has begun to scrutinize closely and will make further pronouncements at a future date.According to Harmon, given the numerous variations over time, the final cost for the road project could very well double.He pointed to the fact that the works being undertaken on ‘section two’ of the road had to be recently pulled from the contractor and the Ministry is currently looking to retender.Harmon opines that the various contractors had all underestimated the scope of work and the price.The Chinese contractor for section seven yesterday began offloading its equipment to transport to the site to build the last remaining section.Harmon concedes that this section of the road will prove to be extremely difficult as it is being undertaken in ‘virgin land.’He disclosed that the section contains a number of huge boulders and as such will require significant blasting.“Section seven remains a major challenge…it’s tough terrain with a lot of rocks.”According to Harmon, during discussions with the Chinese contractor,Marlon Humphrey Jersey, they indicated that they are not optimistic about completing the section of the road within the stipulated six month deadline.He said that even if China Rail were to be allowed an extra week to mobilize its equipment it will be extremely difficult to complete the task by December 30.Speaking to the fact that the final cost of building the Amaila Falls road is yet to be determined, Harmon pointed out that the crossing for the Kuribrong River is still only at its design phase.The Bridge across the Kuribrong River is included in the building of the access road to Amaila Falls.That Contract has been awarded to Dynamic Engineering and is being done under a ‘Build Own Operate Transfer’ model.The site visit utilized the services of the two Bell 206 helicopters owned by the Guyana Defence Force and saw the personnel being taken to each of the seven sections.According to Harmon, given the magnitude and complexity of the entire project it cannot be left up to the government and the contractors alone.He said that stakeholders, along with parliamentary oversight, must be included, adding that it holds the potential to become “an albatross around the necks of our children and grandchildren.”Harmon said that the officials,Cheap Islanders Jerseys, inclusive of Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, provided an excellent overview of the works being undertaken.He said that among the concerns on the road is the troubled section two,Angelo Henriquez Chile Jersey, which has been plagued particularly as a result of the high water levels in the Essequibo River.Harmon related to this publication that sections three, four, five and parts of six have gone a far way in terms of completion.The Contract for Section Six had to be pulled from Hassan Pasha and given to Ivor Allen.The 165MW Hydroelectric Power Plant is slated to be built at the base of the Amaila Falls.Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources, including US$100M in equity from the Guyana Go