Local truck drivers still waiting for share in La Gogue Dam extension project |07 August 2018

Months following their three-day protest in Victoria demanding a fair share in the work to extend the La Gogue dam, local pick-up, plant and truck hirers are still waiting for a decision on the matter.

The acting chairperson of the pick-up, plant and truck hire association (PPTHA) Jeffery Delorie said yesterday a lot of discussions have taken place with different ministries and Sino Hydro Company which is undertaking the extension project on the La Gogue dam, but until now an agreement has yet to be reached.

“It is really taking too long,” Mr Delorie pointed out.

But the consultant representing the association, Giovanna Neves, is optimistic of an outcome soon.

“Negotiations are ongoing and I believe the outcome will be made known soon, but for now I would not make any comments,” she stated on Friday.

During a visit to the project site yesterday, Seychelles NATION observed that activities on the site was very slow for a Monday morning with only a lone excavator on site even though a representative of the Sino Hydro said work is underway but the company is yet to hear from the concerned authorities with regard to an agreement with the PPTHA.

“Work is going on fine and we have no problem,” the Sino Hydro representative said.

But Seychelles NATION journalists were denied access to the site going through the main gate so they were not able to see activities there making it difficult to confirm if work was really going on but on the company’s site opposite the entrance to the dam, three of its six heavy trucks lay idle.    

Meanwhile, all efforts to get an update from the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) on the work and other related matters surrounding the project have been unsuccessful.