How NIS Berbice branch cost $69M … - KNews willing to pay for a post construction audit
SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Amidst growing questions over the overpriced cost of constructing a Berbice branch of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), official documents provided by Government have now revealed that a staggering $2.6M was estimated for a small generator hut in the compound. The figures were included in an official Engineer’s Estimate reportedly prepared by NIS on what it would cost to build the one-flat office at Corriverton and other works related to the construction. That generator hut was part of the works. The generator hut, which is approximately 10 feet high, eight feet wide and eight feet long, consists of walls fashioned out of cement blocks, four steps, two handrails and a grill gate.

According to one engineer, it is unclear how the $2.6M figure for the generator hut was calculated since no general dimension of the structure was indicated in the Bill of Quantities which stated that the exact location and size of the hut was to be determined later on the work site. Yet, in the same Engineer’s Estimate, the height of the hut’s columns was proposed to be 15 feet. Another curiosity, said the engineer the newspaper spoke to, was that the sum of $144,000 provisioned for the pouring of roof slab, floor and platform slabs, stairs and an oil drain. Yet that very same Bill of Quantities contains a later item that provides a sum of $120,000 for the “construction of concrete stairs for the entrance to the generator hut.”

There are other curiosities and the newspaper has decided to publish that section of the Engineer’s Estimate that has to do with the generator hut as well as images of the completed structure so that readers may judge for themselves. It will be recalled that following the announcement that the NIS branch cost $69M and the subsequent questions that arose, Kaieteur News published pictures of three homes which were built for staffers and which cost less than $7M each. The newspaper had requested from Head of the Presidential Secretariat and NIS’ Chairman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the details of the costs of that $69M facility. Dr. Luncheon, in turn, requested that the newspaper provide the Bills of Quantities for these homes. The newspaper and the Office of the President then exchanged documents with the latter providing the Engineer’s Estimate for the NIS Building.

On Tuesday, media workers including Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris were both refused entry to that Corriverton branch. The security on recognizing the newsmen immediately shut the gates and later disclosed that NIS’ General Manager, Doreen Nelson, had ordered that they be kept out. The Branch Manager, Louise Bryan, was seen hiding at the back of the NIS building.

The Engineer’s Estimate for the entire project was $50,667,948. Based on this estimate, tenders later went out for local contracting firms to submit bids. Government, who commissioned that Corriverton facility late last month, said that the completed structure cost NIS $69M. According to Lall, in an effort to fulfill the newspaper’s mandate to keep the people of Guyana informed, Kaieteur News is seeking permission to carry out an onsite investigation as part of a post construction audit of the structure in order to have a better understanding of how the peoples’ money was spent, on this project.

In order to facilitate this post construction audit, the following data is being requested:
1. Copy of the engineering drawings.
2. Copy of the bid document of the contractor that won the bid and executed the project.
3. Copy of payment certificates detailing the work completed that was paid for.
The cost for this venture shall be funded completely by Kaieteur News if Government agrees.




Bill of Quantities for the generator hut at $69M NIS Corriverton building.

Source

quote:

2. Copy of the bid document of the contractor that won the bid and executed the project.

This should read, "Copies of the bids" or was it only one friend of the PPP bidder?

quote:

Originally posted by seignet:
How much and where.

Details are irrelevant. Just send de man de money and he will take care of the rest.

before they start to build they bring a ppp pandit to read over the building and he get a million for his work so the building only cost 68 million i wonder if the pandit read over the gen room

Why is Luncheon fretting over estimates when he can use the actuals since they are all completed. Why would he refuse the actuals saying that he asked for the estimates instead? I guess doctors don't think like accountants.

Doctors doan think....period. and that's a fact Jack.

quote:

Originally posted by ksazma:
Why is Luncheon fretting over estimates when he can use the actuals since they are all completed. Why would he refuse the actuals saying that he asked for the estimates instead? I guess doctors don't think like accountants.

Delay tactics.... he is hoping it will go away. The job is now finished. You don't have tp be an accountant to know that it is the actual cost that is relevant.

How NIS Berbice Branch costs $69M…There was a $400,000 septic tank
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Following revelations that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) needed a whopping a $2.6M to construct a generator hut for its Corriverton branch, yet another obscenely overpriced item has been found. According to an Engineer’s Estimate released by the Office of the President, a septic tank was projected to cost $413,420.


An Engineer’s Estimate prepared by NIS proposed a septic tank should be of these specifications and costs.

However, independent contractors and engineers say that on an average, inclusive of labour cost, a septic tank should not cost beyond $85,000. These are septic tanks with walls made of hollow blocks and filled with cement to strengthen them. Then there are the more expensive ones that involve the pouring of cement to construct the walls. These walls are entirely solid and have no hollow blocks. These, according to contractors, should not run more than $150,000, inclusive of labour costs.

According to Engineer’s Estimate, the septic tank should have been 15.5 ft long, five ft wide and five ft deep. It should also have a five feet by 2.5 feet deep filter box attached. Yet even for this item the dimensions seem to be in question since the very next line of the Bill of Quantities calls for the construction of a 12.5ft long by 7ft wide by 5ft deep septic tank. It was apparent that NIS’ estimate allowed for the pouring of mix concrete, instead of the blocks. For that item some $198,000 alone was provisioned for pouring the cement.

It will be recalled that following the announcement that the NIS branch cost $69M and the subsequent questions that arose, Kaieteur News published pictures of three homes which were built for staffers and which cost less than $7M each. The newspaper had requested from Head of the Presidential Secretariat and NIS Chairman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the details of the costs of that $69M facility. Dr. Luncheon, in turn, requested that the newspaper provide the Bills of Quantities for these homes. The newspaper and the Office of the President then exchanged documents with the latter providing the Engineer’s Estimate for the NIS Building.


The half of a million dollar septic tank at new NIS branch at Corriverton, Berbice.

On Tuesday, media workers including Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris were both refused entry to that Corriverton branch. The security on recognizing the newsmen immediately shut the gates and later disclosed that NIS’ General Manager, Doreen Nelson, had ordered that they be kept out. The Branch Manager, Louise Bryan, was seen hiding at the back of the NIS building.

The Engineer’s Estimate for the entire project was $50,667,948. Based on this estimate, tenders later went out for local contracting firms to submit bids. Government, who commissioned that Corriverton facility late last month, said that the completed structure cost NIS $69M. In light of the many questions, Kaieteur News over the weekend offered to conduct an on-site post-construction audit to determine whether the $69M was well spent. The newspaper has also asked for a copy of the engineering drawings, which was never provided by the government and copy of the payment certificates detailing the work completed that was paid for. There has not been a response as yet from government.

Source

VOTE PPP/C FOR MORE TAX MONEY TO DISAPPEAR.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

VOTE PPP/C FOR MORE TAX MONEY TO DISAPPEAR.

.. in the form of providing services.

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

VOTE PPP/C FOR MORE TAX MONEY TO DISAPPEAR.

.. in the form of providing services.

....to friends and family of the PPP/C.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

VOTE PPP/C FOR MORE TAX MONEY TO DISAPPEAR.

.. in the form of providing services.

....to friends and family of the PPP/C.

.. for all Guyanese.

How NIS Berbice Branch costs $69M…There was this $2.8M public convenience toilet
SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

A public toilet facility at the controversial Corriverton branch of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) was estimated at an overpriced $2.8M, released documents have indicated. The toilet facilities, according to the Engineer’s Estimate released by government, are 13.33 feet long, 12.92 feet wide and nine feet high. There were three cubicles with two for the public.


Front view of the “public” toilet facilities at the controversial $69M NIS branch at Corriverton, Berbice.

Glaringly, each toilet set was estimated at $55,000. Four were provisioned for but there were only three cubicles. It was unclear where the extra toilet set was going. For this structure, the roof sheeting was estimated $195,000 while plumbing…$260,000. The Bill of Quantity also said that roof sheeting should be of 26-guage, a thicker more expensive material.

Again, we are publishing the Bills of Quantities and the photographs of the toilet facilities. It will be recalled that following the announcement that the NIS branch cost $69M and the subsequent questions that arose, Kaieteur News published pictures of three homes which were built for staffers and which cost less than $7M each. The newspaper had requested from Head of the Presidential Secretariat and NIS Chairman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the details of the costs of that $69M facility. Dr. Luncheon, in turn, requested that the newspaper provide the Bills of Quantities for these homes. The newspaper and the Office of the President then exchanged documents with the latter providing the Engineer’s Estimate for the NIS Building.


Back and side view of the public toilet facilities which NIS said would cost $2.8M to build.

On Tuesday, last week, media workers including Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris were both refused entry to that Corriverton branch. The security on recognizing the newsmen immediately shut the gates and later disclosed that NIS’ General Manager, Doreen Nelson, had ordered that they be kept out. The Branch Manager, Louise Bryan, was seen hiding at the back of the NIS building.

The Engineer’s Estimate for the entire project was $50,667,948. Based on this estimate, tenders later went out for local contracting firms to submit bids. Government, who commissioned that Corriverton facility late last month, said that the completed structure cost NIS $69M. In light of the many questions, Kaieteur News over the weekend offered to conduct an on-site post-construction audit to determine whether the $69M was well spent. The newspaper has also asked for a copy of the engineering drawings, which was never provided by the government and copy of the payment certificates detailing the work completed that was paid for. There has not been a response as yet from government.

Source

Why Kaieteur News was not allowed into NIS Corriverton
SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER LETTERS

Dear Editor,

Since you and Mr. Lall did not get a chance to visit the NIS $69M office at Corriverton, let me brief you on what I saw, and am seeing as a worker there.

You may have noticed that the frame work of all doors; that is the wooden uprights that make the door entrances, are all made of second or third quality wood. They have very rough surfaces even though brown paint is applied to them. The building is much smaller than the previous one which was two stories. Therefore, staff space is limited. No two nurses can be accommodated in the Medical Department; that is with their individual furniture. This was not the case in the previous building.

With this information, you can see why the media, especially Kaieteur News is not allowed to see the building thoroughly. A comparison is made to the Metro building in New Amsterdam, which was just recently completed and occupied. The contractor, Godfrey Cowden indicated that the building cost Metro $60M. It is a two storey building, longer than the NIS building in Corriveton, and it is more stylish. Check this out!

Honest worker

Source

How the NIS Corriverton branch costs $69M…3 Tuff tanks, gutters, and pipes for $1.4M - bids not opened by National Tender Board
SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

The controversial high-priced $69M Corriverton branch of the National Insurance Scheme was not awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). The contract was awarded by NIS. It is still unclear if it was placed to tender with NIS making an assessment and then awarding the contract according to established procurement practices or whether Fyffe Building and Contracting Works was just handed the job. That semi-autonomous body has not acceded or responded to Kaieteur News’ requests for more information or a challenge to have a post-construction audit done to clear up any misgivings how the $69M was spent.


Three Tuff tanks, gutters, plumbing costs were estimated by NIS to cost $1.4M.

Officials of NPTAB confirmed last week that it did not open the bid and noted that NIS like the Guyana Sugar Corporation, is a semi-autonomous agency which controls its ‘own’ finances and therefore allowed to conduct its own procurement. The exceptions are when contracts using financing from overseas donors are used and Government has negotiated those finances. The NPTAB then has to deal with the bid opening and awarding the contracts.

There have been numerous questions about how the large sum of money was spent. Over the past days, the newspaper has been publishing photographs of sections of the NIS Corriverton branch and highlighting some of the questionable costs contained in an Engineer’s Estimate. That Engineer’s Estimate for the construction was just over $50M. That is the only document, the management of NIS and government have released on the costs.


An Engineer’s Estimate for the controversial NIS branch at Corriverton, Berbice, said that three Tuff tanks, guttering, toilet bowls would cost $1.4M.

There are several questionable estimated costs with a generator hut costing almost $2.7M and a public toilet -$2.8M. And there are more. According to the Bill of Quantities described as “Rainwater Goods and Cold Water Distribution”, plumbing for five toilets, toilet sets, face sinks, gutters and three Tuff Tanks and gutter works all came up to an astounding $1,377,300. The Tuff Tanks, costing an average of $30,000, were listed at $60,000 each. One toilet set was estimated at $55,000 with the five adding up to $275,000. Gutters and downpipes for the 40 feet by 60 feet building alone were estimated to cost almost $400,000.

It will be recalled that following the announcement that the NIS branch cost $69M and the subsequent questions that arose, Kaieteur News published pictures of three homes which were built for staffers and which cost less than $7M each. The newspaper had requested from Head of the Presidential Secretariat and NIS Chairman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the details of the costs of that $69M facility. Dr. Luncheon, in turn, requested that the newspaper provide the Bills of Quantities for these homes. The newspaper and the Office of the President then exchanged documents with the latter providing the Engineer’s Estimate for the NIS Building.

On September 5th, media workers including Kaieteur News’ Publisher Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris were both refused entry to that Corriverton branch. The security on recognizing the newsmen immediately shut the gates and later disclosed that NIS’ General Manager, Doreen Nelson, had ordered that they be kept out. The Branch Manager, Louise Bryan, was seen hiding at the back of the NIS building.

Government, who commissioned that Corriverton facility late last month, said that the completed structure cost NIS $69M. In light of the many questions, Kaieteur News had offered to conduct an on-site post-construction audit to determine whether the $69M was well spent. The newspaper has also asked for a copy of the engineering drawings, which was never provided by the government and copy of the payment certificates detailing the work completed that was paid for. There has not been a response as yet from government.

Source