Contractors run into problems with CHEC in Jamaica

| 27/10/2011

(CNS): According to a report in Thursday's edition of the Jamaica Gleaner sub-contractors working for China Harbour Engineering Company on the multibillion-dollar Palisadoes Shoreline project are having problems getting paid. The original primary contractor YP Seaton recently complain he could not pay his subs as he was not being paid by CHEC, and was sacked by the Chinese firm, which is currently in talks with the Cayman Islands government to build the cruise berthing facilities in George Town. Sub-contractors in Jamaica who are now working directly with China Harbour are echoing the complaints originally made by Seaton as they too say they are not being paid properly.

The Gleaner reports that after terminating the contract with Seaton, China Harbour had entered into a contractual arrangement with truckers and local suppliers. But subcontractors claim the rates being paid are not viable and they are now being forced to withdraw their services.

"We want a meeting to renegotiate the contract," a subcontractor told the newspaper who asked that his name be withheld for fear of being "sabotaged by the political process".
Another subcontractor told The Gleaner that an increasing number of the subcontractors were laying down their tools because they were unable to finance their obligations. "I have to be paying my workers as they have children to go to school," he told The Gleaner.

The subs want Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry to intervene but he said that he had received no report of any problems associated with the work being carried out on the Palisadoes Shoreline.

"Subcontractors know the process by which they are being paid … they should have a contractual arrangement in place," Henry said. "And payments are supposed to be made after the work and quality of material supplied is certified."


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  1. Anonymous says:

    Can CNS investigate, while we are on the CHEC subject, why the Prime Minister of Jamaica had to resign causing a huge mockery of the politics in the western hemisphere. Did it have to do with CHEC, DUDAS COKE or maybe the current FBI investigations in the Caribbean; oops sorry for that slip of the pen!!!!

    More Caribbean politicians are going down people! Just you wait and seeeeee!

  2. Anonymous says:

    And it is written on the wall. Beware Cayman!!

  3. ooohhh says:

    Does that come with fry rice and won ton soup? China is one of the most corrupt nations in the world, they have built the population and now want to spread their influence globally. They will replace every MacDonalds with a Canton pretty soon. Lets all continue to sit back and watch while our official language becomes Chinese. Oh and forget about Big MAc doing anything, his silence and even support of CHEC says it all, he has friends in high places…

     

  4. Polly Tricks says:

    Just remind me how many jobs allthese grand plans of Mac have created so far . . . My last estimate was none.  Not one.  Nada.  Diddly squat. Zip.

    • But says:

      We did get to see lots of pictures he took in China…oh wait nop not even pictures.

       

  5. Anonymous says:

    TALK, TALK, TALK. WHEN ARE WE CAYMANIANS GOING TO MARCH? Once the contracts are signed it will be too late and November is next week! Then CHEC will sue us for beach of contract like GLF are supposedly doing now. We have to stop this madness NOW!

    • Anonymous says:

      The MARCH that we should be organising is to over throw the Premier.  When are we going to move him.   Procrastination is the thief of time.   There is no tomorrow, for the things we have to do TODAY.  We are holding a lock fire hose, while Rome is burning.  Let's get our act together and make our representation to the GOV GOV. 

      Is there an attempt to get us on a reservation?  Wait and see what happens.  I am not going on any reservation after we are sold out to the highest bidder.  I want my $350,000, I want my land,  I want my percentage. 

    • Anonymous says:

      It isn't a joke. GLF is suing us for some huge monies.

  6. Anonymous says:

    You can see it coming can't you? So why can't Bush?

  7. The Prophet says:

    Well if the Chinese firm want to play that game with us here in Cayman we have a plan.  We are all going to build a hut on top of the Cruise birthing facility and stay up there untill we are all paid.

    • Anonymous says:

      And these are the people that Mckeeva Bush wants to do business with rather than GLF?If Mckeeva Bush had not got rid of GLF the GT port would be well underway.XXXX

  8. Anonymous says:

    Just the right people for us to make an exclusive agreement with. Next thing you know, we will be paying the subcontracters ourselves again to garner more votes.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Somebody BBM mckeewa. But they probably flashed him the MONEY and he done signed.

  10. The Realist says:

    Oh yea, this is the billion $ company that was going to be our greatest saviours by building the new Port and finance the Spotts dock aswell as save Cayman Airways.

    Thanks Mac, but they cant pay their sub-contractors in Jamaica so I think we will be better off without them, so you can come back from China – no as a matter of fact, please keep your entourage and take an extented life-long vacation in China (maybe 1 day you could run for President as you would fit in ever so well there) and you can also keep China Harbour over there with you.

  11. Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

    Need we say more!

  12. Anonymous says:

    Anyone considering doing business with the Chinese should proceed with caution.

    Recent news stories have revealed that the current recession has hit the country with a vengence. Closed factories, bankrupt employers and mass unemployment are hardly the stuff that encourages joint ventures. 

    The country also has a long-standing problem with major companies routing funds through off-shore accounts in places like the Cayman Islands. This often means that only a fraction of the actual revenue goes back to China and what does enters the country under the guise of investment capital attracting generous tax breaks even if it only goes into the pockets of the owners and their families.

     

  13. peter milburn says:

    Dont stop the Carnival book 3.Let the fun begin.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Say "No" to China, cheap chinese crap and their dubious business practices. They have wrought utter havoc on their own people by forcing them out of the rural areas, giving them crap jobs in disgusting, polluted conditions and doing nothing as they die off to be replaced by more suckers.

    The chinese belong in China, period.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Mac are you listening. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. Dred says:

    I'm no Johnny Mathis but let's give this a whirl shall we….aheem

    "It's beginning to look a lot like Cohen, ev'rywhere you go.

    Take a look at all the false promises and I'm sure you will know.

    It's beginning to look a lot like Cohen, savings at every turn.

    He likes our money over open fire so he can watch it burn."

    Sorry no more rhymes.

    CHEC = Disaster actually Premier = Disasteralso….

    Brace yourselves people….grab something and hold on because we are in for another rough ride.

  17. Anonymous says:

    The Chinese are notorious for abrogating contracts and agreements midstream.  Oppression is their only management tool for export.  Western laws protecting rights and liberties are obstacles which they will seek to circumvent to their benefit using any leverage available.  This is standard operating procedure.  Look and learn.    

     

     

  18. Libertarian says:

    Ha!  Many Jamaican politicians sold out to the IMF, corporations, and big shots!  Could care less for the Jamaican workers!  Greed, greed, greed in the Caribbean… it will never end. Only "you" in your personal life, can make a difference whilst the world rapidly destroy itself.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Not sure what the excitement is about.

    Just because the local contractors are threatening to lay down their tools it should not concern the Jamaican government as to the ability of CHEC to complete the project on time and on budget.

    I am sure they have tens of thousands of willing workers and their families preparing to immigrate and take up the slack to finish the job.

    • A Guilty Pleasure says:

      Anon 11:27, are you serious, or was that sarcasm?

      Quote: "I am sure they have tens of thousands of willing workers and their families preparing to immigrate and take up the slack to finish the job."

      ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS?

      Do you honestly think that anyone in their right mind is going to "take up the slack" if they are not going to get paid? Get real woman! Would you be so foolish? XXXX

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, the person was being sarcastic and I think they meant that the Chinese families are preparing to immigrate and finish the job…

      • Anonymous says:

        14:05

        I think the poster above was referring to the Chinese bringing in their own people.  Actually it's probably their plan all along.  Underpay the locals, they quit and use that excuse to bring in their own people.

  20. Anonymous says:

    This is interesting:

    Another source close to the Palisadoes project revealed that the rates being paid to China Harbour by the Government varies between J$6,000 and J$13,000 per tonne for material that is delivered.

    "They are only paying between $1,100 and $1,700 to supply and deliver the material," the subcontractor told The Gleaner.

    I can't wait to see what the hourly wage China Harbour is going to offer common labourers when they start building the piers.