By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Years after final payments were disbursed and the statutory defects liability period expired, Acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham has attributed persistent occupational and sanitation challenges at the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) headquarters to alleged defects left behind by the original 2021 contractor.
The Acting Fire Chief’s statements follow widespread public backlash and social media disclosures revealing that firefighters stationed at the modern multi-million dollar headquarters were reportedly forced to use buckets of water for basic sanitation and daily station duties due to severe plumbing failures.
Procurement Background and Handover Process
In November 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs awarded a G$614 million contract to Mohamed’s Enterprise for the construction of the new Guyana Fire Service headquarters on Homestretch Avenue.
During the building’s handover in 2023, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn publicly outlined the rigorous handover protocols governing state infrastructure.
- Defects Liability Period: Ministry engineers were tasked with inspecting the facility to identify any structural or mechanical defects during the fixed liability window.
- Rectification & Final Sign-Off: Contractors are legally required to remedy identified defects at their own expense before a certificate of completion is issued and final retention payments are released.
- Full Certification: The facility was subsequently certified by state engineers, final payments were disbursed, and the building was commissioned for active duty.
Acting Fire Chief Defends Administration; Cites Re-Tendered Works
Responding to the controversy on Thursday evening, Acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham insisted that the current operational distress does not stem from administrative neglect, but rather from chronic structural and plumbing defects inherited from the initial construction:
“The administration of the GFS and the Ministry of Home Affairs place great attention to staff welfare, well-being, health, and safety to ensure that we all have a good working environment,” Acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham stated.
Wickham explained that after assessing the persistence of the issues, the GFS and the Ministry determined that a broader approach was necessary, leading to the re-tendering of remedial works under a new contract to overhaul the plumbing system and address other building defects.
The original contractor has not issued a public response to Wickham’s statements, and the specific claims regarding the original build defects have not been independently verified.
Public and Industry Scrutiny Over Oversight
The Acting Fire Chief’s explanation has drawn sharp scrutiny from engineering analysts and governance observers, who question why these defects were not flagged and rectified during the mandatory defects liability period before final state funds were paid out.
Critics note that because the building underwent engineering inspections and was officially signed off by Ministry of Home Affairs oversight teams in 2023, apportioning blame to the 2021 contractor three years later raises serious questions regarding government inspection protocols, project certification, and contract management.
