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FM
Former Member

Salvaging fibre-optic cable would be costly exercise, experts say

Posted By Staff Writer On December 21, 2014 @ 5:20 am In Local News | No Comments

Salvaging the multi-billion dollar fibre-optic cable project will be costly and will require government to be frank about key attributes of the project which may in turn expose poor decision-making.

“To salvage this project the Guyana government will have to be honest with analysts and the technical remedial team …I doubt they would want to expose the magnitude of their failures and that itself will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions more,” one fibre optic specialist told Stabroek News.

The project to lay a fibre-optic cable from Brazil to Georgetown to vastly expand internet bandwidth came back into sharp focus two Mondays ago when Stabroek News reported that government officials had gone quiet on a project which had missed many deadlines.

At a recent press conference, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon acknowledged that the project needed “remedial work” but failed to mention that it had been suspended. That announcement was quietly in the December 12 edition of the Guyana Times by the Project Manager Alexei Ramotar who had not been available to Stabroek News for several weeks to discuss the state of the project.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) feels the project should be put on hold until a comprehensive assessment is carried out and then a decision should be made on its future.

Alexei Ramotar

Alexei Ramotar

Joseph Harmon

Joseph Harmon

In an interview with Stabroek News the party’s Shadow Minister of Public Works Joseph Harmon lambasted government for its secrecy on the project.

He pointed to Ramotar’s quiet disclosure to only to the Guyana Times that the project had been suspended since last year when up to earlier this year government had said the project was behind schedule but that works were ongoing.

“Look now, the father has not made a public declaration on its status and the son is saying quietly it is suspended. Well that will not cut it. We want you to tell us why it was suspended. What you have done so far with the people’s billion [dollars], what do you intend to do now… They have to take responsibility for this other mega failure. Tell the people the truth,” he said.

“From the onset I said that [Alexei] Ramotar did not have the experience to handle such a big project. Even Dr Luncheon had been expressing doubt when he complained that the project continues to be extension after extension and costing the taxpayers more money,” he added.

Harmon said that the project, the brainchild of the Jagdeo administration, was mired in inefficiencies from its onset and he believes government must suspend it pending the recommendations of expert fibre optic analysts.

“All I can see now is for us to look and see what can be salvaged. I would recommend that this project should be put on hold until such time that we have national experts look at what it is that we really have and make recommendations on a way forward. If you started off with an objective and you don’t achieve it then it is wasted money, this project so far, has been wasted money,” he posited.

Stabroek News spoke with local and international fibre optic experts, some who have inside knowledge of the project, and they all concede that for a decision to be made on the project government would have to be truthful.

“From the design and construction phase it went wrong. A macro plan was needed. We are looking here at laying a cable across different terrains, the land type is different here in Georgetown to that of Linden to that of Lethem. In the design phase you would have to know what mode of cable you will use where and if laying it underground would be best,,, or on poles; the technical parameters. From what I have assessed this was not done,” one expert said.

“Fibre optic cable is made of glass, comes in drums and needs to be handled in a certain way. It is not electric copper cables so because of the fragility you can’t just have any contractor who would have said ‘I laid a cable already’ come to execute the job. He will break the cable and if that was one that had to be buried is problems to troubleshoot,” he added.

The expert noted that it is for salvaging purposes the truth should be told. “Put it like this, if you have them say we bought this superior quality cable and it was actually an inferior one you have a problem there. If they say we only had four joins and it’s ten within a specific area problem again…,” he added.

Further, the specialist said that finding and rectifying problems on the network would be a time consuming one. “If the cable is damaged it is going to be painstaking finding the breaks …you will have to send a light from either end and see where it reaches. Where you see a drop off you have to find that break, dig up the cable and rejoin. It can be many breaks in that whole area so you have to do it bit by bit by bit and you see the distance from Georgetown to Lethem,” he said.

Another specialist told of the shoddy works carried out by local contractors. “You have cases where the cable was laid so shallow that the rain… washed the surface away exposing it, then vehicles traversed constantly over it and we know that is no good. The contractors should have been supervised properly to ensure they worked to specifications needed,” the specialist said.

“Another example is where you had cables that had to pass through creeks and believe me they were placed on tree forks stuck in the creek so people bathing in the creek or heavy rains again and the cable washed away,” he added.

For the project four local contractors were hired: Dax Contracting, Dynamic Engineering, Mekdeci Machinery and G Bovell Construction Company.

It is unclear if any of the companies had requisite expertise or experience in carrying out similar works.

Dr Luncheon would only say that some of the contractors were taken to court for breach of contract. However, when details of the litigations were requested of him he did not respond.

The experts all believe that there is a possibility that the project could be saved. However, the cost of saving it and whether it would still be feasible when completed, they said, was a different matter.

“It is not impossible but if they are not transparent and own up to the errors in the execution of the project, from the hiring of untrained contractors to lay the cables to the purchase of the quality of the cable then there is no way one will be able to appropriately troubleshoot, estimate costs and rectify the defects, no way,” one expert said.

“Would government hand over a document of that magnitude remains a tinkering question for us all,” the expert added.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

JAIL THE THIEF, no accountability. I am not black nor brown, I am not PPP, APNU or AFC but what is fair is fair. I know of a minister that used to sell insurance and could not write a proper sentence, I had to let him go in the 70's. Guyana is lacking of educated and qualified talent.

K
Originally Posted by kp:

JAIL THE THIEF, no accountability. I am not black nor brown, I am not PPP, APNU or AFC but what is fair is fair. I know of a minister that used to sell insurance and could not write a proper sentence, I had to let him go in the 70's. Guyana is lacking of educated and qualified talent.

You still vote PPP now right?

FM
Originally Posted by kp:

I choose not to vote, there is no deserving political party.

We family say same thing to. But me think me going to vote for Mr Granger or AFC so PPP get heart attack. 

FM

Do you know why they are so much bickering between the political parties???,because they all want a piece of the pie.Big thief, lil thief more thief. Guyana needs a military government, with strict laws, all crime will be down.

K
Originally Posted by kp:

Do you know why they are so much bickering between the political parties???,because they all want a piece of the pie.Big thief, lil thief more thief. Guyana needs a military government, with strict laws, all crime will be down.

The police and military people are the biggest criminals. It will be like back to the kick down the door days.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Do you know why they are so much bickering between the political parties???,because they all want a piece of the pie.Big thief, lil thief more thief. Guyana needs a military government, with strict laws, all crime will be down.

The police and military people are the biggest criminals. It will be like back to the kick down the door days.

YOUR FAMILY ALREADY KICKING DOWN PEOPLE DOOR

FM
Originally Posted by warrior:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Do you know why they are so much bickering between the political parties???,because they all want a piece of the pie.Big thief, lil thief more thief. Guyana needs a military government, with strict laws, all crime will be down.

The police and military people are the biggest criminals. It will be like back to the kick down the door days.

YOUR FAMILY ALREADY KICKING DOWN PEOPLE DOOR

I told them to skip your house. Were you at home when they did? I have to warn them again. I have to let them know that you are an expert karate fool. I'll pay to repair your door next time I am out there hunting "wild cabbage" in your backyard.

FM
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by warrior:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Do you know why they are so much bickering between the political parties???,because they all want a piece of the pie.Big thief, lil thief more thief. Guyana needs a military government, with strict laws, all crime will be down.

The police and military people are the biggest criminals. It will be like back to the kick down the door days.

YOUR FAMILY ALREADY KICKING DOWN PEOPLE DOOR

I told them to skip your house. Were you at home when they did? I have to warn them again. I have to let them know that you are an expert karate fool. I'll pay to repair your door next time I am out there hunting "wild cabbage" in your backyard.

Is this the same as Benn skip cleaning the trench  weeds in front of some people  houses. It looks like the PPP is good teacher.

Tola
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

ok fool who is the minister of home affair,who is the commander in chief of the arm force and these are the people u pray to every day now stop your weeping and crying about the security force 

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

FM
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

And just where is that court of law? the same court of law that has the perp documented proof on tape with death treats and stealing funds? What other proof they need to act again? Proof coming out yun kakahole perhaps?

sachin_05
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Jagdeo is proof.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

a picture is worth a thousand word let not the court judge but the people

FM
Originally Posted by sachin_05:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

And just where is that court of law? the same court of law that has the perp documented proof on tape with death treats and stealing funds? What other proof they need to act again? Proof coming out yun kakahole perhaps?

I did not know that death comes with treats. Where do the treats come from? Your own kakahole? Is this the mentality you have? Continue braying.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by sachin_05:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

And just where is that court of law? the same court of law that has the perp documented proof on tape with death treats and stealing funds? What other proof they need to act again? Proof coming out yun kakahole perhaps?

I did not know that death comes with treats. Where do the treats come from? Your own kakahole? Is this the mentality you have? Continue braying.

like u start smoking some cheap shit,it pretty hard to defend wrong doings 

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by sachin_05:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

And just where is that court of law? the same court of law that has the perp documented proof on tape with death treats and stealing funds? What other proof they need to act again? Proof coming out yun kakahole perhaps?

I did not know that death comes with treats. Where do the treats come from? Your own kakahole? Is this the mentality you have? Continue braying.

"I did not know that death comes with treats".But I bet you know enough to realize if you make a similar call to you boss or colleague here the cops would show and bust two caps up yuh kakahole.....

sachin_05
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

You are such a retard you are critical of the police and the armed forces but not the people who manage and who are ultimately responsible for their actions, Rohee and the PPP. 

 

Well dat is why the unschooled are so valuable to the PPP. Common sense is not something that they have.

FM
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by JB:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Not so on the ground. The sourse is OP who allow they drug pushing friends to corrupt police.

If you have documented proof(not hearsay), show us. Allegations do not stand up in a court of law.

Go and read the transcripts from the simels trial maybe you might learn something from that but then again its very very very extremely very very very difficult for the unschooled to learn anything new...........

FM

This project could have been of great benefit to the citizens of Guynana but the thieves have hijacked it. Theses PPP/C welfare Kings and Queens should be made to face the firing squad. Private investors had no interests in this project and no confidence in the PPP/C from the onset.

Mitwah

Ahhh..firing squad, now there's an idea, never mind Lot12, the Govt is doing everything against the country and its people, the PPP could be considered traitors, this is where firing squad comes in.

cain
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Maybe with the extra pay, those in the force might hold off with their corrupt practices. But when these guys see those above them and those in Govt doing the same corrupt shit, they follow.

cain
Originally Posted by cain:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Maybe with the extra pay, those in the force might hold off with their corrupt practices. But when these guys see those above them and those in Govt doing the same corrupt shit, they follow.

Cain bro, you ah wan smart guy, how come you na run for pressy job in GY.

Using illegal taxpayers money to pay the forces, will prevent them from  bandit wuk.

Now de PPP can say, seeee we have crime free Guyana, election coming soon.

Who seh goat bite rohee and Rumotar is a quack...

 

BUT its ass to pay, when they are no longer the government.

Camp street time fa dem,  like Khan, Ahmad and Lall.

Kwame said he prime and ready fa action, Jagdeo is he partner.   

Tola
Originally Posted by cain:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by kp:

Skeldon-man,  and yet the President is rewarding them with an extra month's pay, so he is rewarding bandits???? Yes the PPP Gov't.

KP, I thought that was wrong. If you go back and read my responses about the Guyanese police force, you will see that I have been very critical of the police and military. They are the source of most of the crimes in Guyana. They need to set up stings and weed these bastards out.

Maybe with the extra pay, those in the force might hold off with their corrupt practices. But when these guys see those above them and those in Govt doing the same corrupt shit, they follow.

Corruption and Criminality in the PPP breeds corruption and crime across the country.

FM
Originally Posted by Stormborn:

The question we need to ask is that now the project is suspended until further notice, is this fellow still getting his 15k or so a month?

Good question,also the opposition should inquire

how much was spent.

Django

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