Dennis peeved at aspects of Buccoo boardwalk project

Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis says he is not pleased with aspects of the work being done on the boardwalk in Buccoo.

Dennis is the representative for Buccoo/Mt Pleasant in the Tobago House of Assembly.

Addressing the post-executive council news conference on Wednesday last, he said the project, which began in 2015, is expected to be completed in the next two months.

But he said he has some “personal issues” with the quality of work by the contractor working on phase one of the project, such as “the level of carpentry that I am seeing there.”

Dennis gave an example.“A development of that nature, of course, will be exposed to salt, (so) one must use stainless steel bolts and nails.

“So I was very surprised to see, when I passed down there, a situation where normal nails that you will use in normal construction circumstances were being driven into wood for parts of the rails down at the boardwalk.”

Dennis said the contractor is already aware of the THA’s concerns.

“That will not be accepted by us, not at this time and not ever under my watch.”

Dennis, who is also the Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation, said Tobagonians and the country by extension, must get value for money.

“I do not want a situation where, after the project is complete, we have, very soon after, issues with materials falling apart and rust.”