Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang has thrown out a case brought by the owner of BM Soat Auto Sales at Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD) against the Public Works Ministry on the upgrading of the four-lane road from Better Hope–Mahaica (ECD).
According to a Public Works Ministry release, Justice Chang on December 20 dismissed the matter as “illegally misconceived”. The delays have cost the public purse tens of millions of dollars.
“There are no legal impediments stopping the Ministry of Public Works from proceeding to demolish the illegal structure. The ministry would proceed with the construction of the four-lane upgrade project.
“We take this opportunity to thank the public for their patience with the judicial process. The completion of this four-lane extension is integral to our delivery as a ministry to the people of Guyana,” the release added.
Owner of BM Soat Auto Sales at Success, Bashair Mohamed, through his attorneys Khemraj Ramjattan and Neil Persram had filed an application for constitutional redress and subsequently took the Public Works Ministry to court, preventing the ministry from upgrading the said road.
The ministry was represented by Attorney Eusi Anderson, principal legal advisor from the attorney general’s chambers.
Dipcon Engineering Limited was contracted to upgrade the road to the tune Gy$ 671,623,054.
The contractor commenced works from October 3, 2011 and the proposed completion date was expected to be July 3, 2012. During construction, the contractor ceased operation because of an illegal construction which inhibited works. This illegal construction was on the government road reserve on the southern half of the public road at Success.
