![Workers of GT&T putting a new pole in the center of the carriageway, halting construction. [Photo provided by BK International]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BK-1.jpg)
The construction company in a press statement this evening noted that employees from GT&T planted a new pole in the center of a new carriageway, effectively halting construction on a significant section of the East Bank Four- Lane Extension Project (the area between the Diamond Intersection and the Diamond DSL Supermarket).
“BK International crews were working on the new carriageway today when an old GT&T pole collapsed. No BK employees were injured as a result of the collapse but some telephone services on the East Bank were reportedly disrupted. When GT&T crews responded, workers from BK International rendered assistance to pull up the ruptured buried cable,” the BK statement noted.
According to BK, “The telephone company in February this year had committed to the relocation of its aerial cables and associated fixtures to a new pole route and to relocate buried cables in this area. However, when the pole fell today it was revealed that the cables remained buried under the active construction area.
“GT&T in a Press Release dated May 22, 2014 said that, “On February 28th 2014, GT&T and the Ministry entered into a contract to relocate aerial cables and associated fixtures to a new pole route and to relocate the buried cables (South of the DDL High Bridge). The release had further indicated that the company was scheduled “to commence works during the week of May 25th 2014.”
BK International called on the Ministry of Public Works to push GT&T to keep their commitment to relocate the buried cables and to reroute the aerial cables so that the road works can proceed to completion.
The Ministry of Public Works and the Public Utlities Commission should be coordinating efforts to ensure road expansion and telecommunications services can be catered for simultaneously. This finger-pointing and blame-game show has no real winner of the end game of both projects is service to the people.