MOP miscalculates debt and adds $4 million to road project cost

The government has  paid $4 million in compensation to 150 people, affected by the Diviso-Chitre road widening project carried out by the Benito Roggio company.

Public Works (MOP) Minister James Ford delivered the check in person on Wednesday September 19 and announced that he would not hesitate to execute the performance bond if the company fails to meet the timeline for delivery of the project which is 75% complete, when it should be 84%.

The MOP forced the company to continue work after it had stopped because the government had not paid money it owed. The government had announced that the debt was $5 million for three projects in Herrera,, but Ford on Wednesday acknowledged that it was actually $15 million.
He added that it will be necessary to submit an addendum to lengthen the time of the project, because it cannot be completed in February 2013, as scheduled but said he was not happy with the pace at which the company restarted work on Monday.