PRESS RELEASE – THE Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is calling on the government to explain why work on the John Compton Dam Rehabilitation Project (JCD) has not commenced.
The Saint Lucia Labour Party says that in 2015, when in government, it had agreed on a project to rehabilitate the John Compton Dam reservoir to return it to its original capacity of 3 million cubic metres.
The cost of the project was estimated at US$14.7 million to be funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The loan was to be repaid from the funds paid by consumers on their monthly bills. The Government of Saint Lucia was to provide a guarantee to the bank as is normal practice.
The project was launched in November 2015 and work was slated to commence in the last quarter of 2016.
The Rules and Guidelines for such projects funded by the CDB were initiated. Invitations for public bids from qualified contractors were advertised, project office and management for the project were implemented and all required processes were in place for the commencement of the desilting and rehabilitation project.
The Saint Lucia Labour Party is asking why the project has not commenced.
SLP Leader, Philip J. Pierre, said: “It is our understanding that the UWP government has failed to give the CDB the customary sovereign guarantee for the loan and is not willing to follow CDB Procurement Rules and Guidelines as they relate to the selection of contractors for this necessary project.
“We are calling on the government to end speculation and inform the public on the exact state of the rehabilitation works on the John Compton Dam.”