BK International and the Government of Guyana

For far too long the Government of Guyana and the International Funding Agencies operating here continue to encourage, tolerate and handsomely reward the incompetence of BK International. This single contractor has won the most contracts in this country since 1992 from the Government of Guyana and its affiliate organizations.


The meteoric rise of BK International to prominence is not based on its impressive track record of engineering expertise, but rather it is as a direct result of the incestuous bond that the company has established.

This column will not allow me to detail the notable failures of BK International to the Government and people of Guyana. But, I will touch on a few. Many of you can remember the East Demerara Conservancy breach at the back of Cane Grove in 2001. Millions of dollars were spent on shoring up and elevating the weak dams of the conservancy; a task that was to be expertly handled by the contractor BK International. The breach that resulted from shoddy work created severe flooding and hardships for the people of Cane Grove, Mahaica. Despite more millions had to be spent in correcting the damaged conservancy as well as a lawsuit from the Government to BK International, BK continues to lumber on gobbling up contract after contract.

Can anyone shed light on that lawsuit? Was the contractor fined?

Just recently we have the degradation of the Barakara Falls area where it seems as if BK will continue to operate without sanction from the bureaucratic bodies responsible for the environment. Mind you, one of the champions of the earth is a prominent Guyanese. Moreover, Guyana has recently formulated ground breaking environmental strategies that are acclaimed internationally.

Now we come to the Supernaam Stelling, the most recent disaster. A 600 million dollar stelling is built by BK International and handed over to Government only to be severely damaged after being put into operation for a mere four days. This time around; a vicious finger pointing exercise has begun. BK International is out of the block first blaming the Ministry of Works for altering the structure while the Ministry is looking for a politically correct response to issue.

In the interim, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Champion of the Earth Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo has called for an immediate investigation into the destruction of this new multimillion dollar facility.

The outcome of yet another embarrassment to the Government that has the words ‘BK International’ and ‘contractor’ in the same sentence should make for good reading. An examination and interpretation of the contract will highlight who is truly responsible. But one thing is as certain as the grass is green; it is that BK International will win the next big contract from the Government of Guyana.

You mark my words!