MP Maynard criticizes delay
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - SEVERAL months after its purported completion and official opening, the Timothy Hill Tunnel is still without lights and questions are being raised about its safety.
Opposition MP and Representative for Constituency Three, Hon. Konris Maynard is of the view that pressure needs to be applied to the Government so that the project could be completed speedily.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Maynard said: “I really think that it is disappointing that we are not at that stage yet to have had this done, and I think it is a security concern.
“It is also a safety concern in terms of the vehicular traffic during the day and during the evening hours. And I think some pressure ought to be brought to bear on the Government to ensure that it is complete or be given a valid reason as to why it is not as yet.”
The project, which was carried out by A De B Consultants out of Jamaica, had suffered a number of delays, and after its May opening the Government had indicated that the lighting and road markings would have been installed in a short time.
That latter delay was caused by the contractor not being able to acquire the requisite fittings and materials to install the lights.
Back in July, Maynard had called on the Government to have the lights installed in a timely manner because the tunnel was then being described as a driver's nightmare, as ones’ eyes would have to quickly transition from brightness to darkness then back to the former during the day.
In a media interview where he was asked to address the installation of lights, among other questions, Minister of Public Infrastructure Hon. Ian Liburd pointed to the tardiness of the contracting firm which undertook that aspect of the project.
“We are hopeful that the lighting in the tunnel would be installed before Christmas. There was some issue with the supplier. As a matter of fact, the contractor, having got his mobilization, did not move in a timely manner. As a matter of fact, he is rather tardy in trying to procure the lighting for the tunnel. So, our consultants that we have on board have taken it into their hands and we are promised that we would have the lights in the next couple of weeks.”
Maynard criticised the Government for hold ups on some of the projects that began before the Team Unity Administration took office last year.
“We know that there have been some holdups with the completion of certain projects that were started before the Government changed and had resulted in some projects being stalled, cut short or budgeted funds being allocated elsewhere. But we don’t know, as I continue to say there is no Public Accounts Committee and there is nothing to check, and there is nothing for me to check.”
To this end, the MP stressed that “publically we have to put some pressure on the Government to complete the project”.
Minister Liburd however declared that a separate contract was drawn up for installation of the lights.
