The long-expected construction of a new and extended commercial jetty at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, should begin in the very near future.
This follows the resubmission of tenders by the same four external companies that originally sent in bids for the project last year. The proposed figures in those rejected bids have now apparently been adjusted to a point where the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority, the agency for the Anguilla Government, can make a determination as to which company should be awarded the contract.
The new tenders were opened on Tuesday, July 1, at a meeting at the Emergency Operations Centre attended by officials from the Governor’s Office, the Government and the Air and Sea Ports Authority. The latter was represented by Chairman of the Ports Authority Board, Mr. Marcel Fahie, and the Project Manager, Mr. Shomari Kentish.
Mr. Fahie commented: “I am very happy that we are at this point. I look forward to the opening of the tenders, the review, the process to select the winning bidder and to proceed to get the jetty built. I thank all of you who have submitted bids and taken the time to do the necessary work.”
The bids were read out by Mr. Kentish. The companies which submitted them and the construction costs are as follows: Edgehill & Associates in a joint venture with Kelectric Company Ltd. (Barbados): US$13, 046, 319. 37; Soletanche Bachy CIMAS (Colombia) US$19, 277, 415.75; Windward Roads (Dutch St. Maarten): US$19, 675, 826.00; and Meridian Construction Ltd. (Tortola): US$15, 991,853.00.
“I would like to point out that the actual bids that came in today are from the same bidders last year,” Mr. Kentish observed. “There were about fifteen requests for bids that were sent out and I can confirm that up to 12 o’clock today we received four.” He stated that once the contract was awarded it was hoped that construction of the jetty would begin by late August or early September.
Mr. Kentish told media representatives that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London was a financial partner in the project. He declined to say the amount of the FCO’s input.
He explained that the approach to the new jetty would require some additional land, but pointed out that the Government of Anguilla had already acquired some of the needed property.
Replying to a question, he said that the construction work would necessitate the relocation of some persons living near the construction site and that, in consultation with them, agreement had already been reached in terms of where they would be relocated.
As to the current cargo jetty, he could not say for certain whether it would be demolished or will be used for other purposes – given the need for tourism facilities at the scenic port.
