INTRODUCTION
BK International Inc. (BK) Guyana’s largest privately owned indigenous construction company was registered in 1993. It is the successor entity to B & K Transportation and Construction services which started operations ten years earlier.
The former Principal shareholder, Chief Executive Officer, and the driving force behind BK and its associated companies are Mr. Brian Tiwarie.
BK now owns the largest pool of construction and transportation assets in Guyana, comprising over four hundred pieces of equipment of all types. BK has completed major projects funded privately, by the government, and by international funding agencies. These projects consist mainly of:
• Sea Defence Works • Civil Construction • Commercial Construction • Custom Residential Construction
BK, during the period 1995 to 2002 has successfully completed many projects mainly in the area of sea defence financed by the IDB with more than ten million united states Dollars.
BK also maintains its own port/wharf facilities at Vreed-en-Hoop. BK was the first Guyanese-owned Construction Company to undertake a major sea defence project financed by the united states PL 480 / World Bank at La Belle Alliance, Essequibo in 1997. In 2003, BK successfully executed a five million united states dollars contract for the construction of a 2.1 km sea Defence at Mon Chosie, West Coast Berbice, the largest to be
awarded to a Guyanese company. BK now does over ninety percent (90%) of all local sea Defence works including one hundred percent (100%) of all IDB-funded sea Defence Projects.
It is accurate therefore to say that BK has successfully executed major projects financed by the united states PL 480 / World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and Caribbean Development Bank. BK has executed a major farm-to-market road which was financed by the European Union – Re: L.E.A.P Program.
BK executed the Largest sea Defence Contract awarded in Guyana. This contract involved the construction of approximately 4 km of sea Defence in Regions 2 and 3 to the value of approximately 3.6 billion Guyana dollars and was also funded by the European Union. The award of this contract substantiates the capabilities, professionalism, and expertise of BK International Inc.
In addition, BK executed another sea Defence Project valued at 1.2 billion Guyana dollars at Profit/Belladrum, West Coast Berbice. This project was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and was designed by Royal Haskoning of the Netherlands and involved a modern approach to the rip rap design.
Additional projects included the construction of roads and water supplies for the low-income housing funded by the European Union and the construction of a new modern roll-on and roll-off stelling at Supenaam.
BK’s success over the years is partly explained by the contributions of the associated companies - BK Quarries Inc and BK Marine Inc. BK was able to purchase the construction
assets of PAC/ GELFI, an Italian firm involved in sea defence works in Guyana. This acquisition further strengthened BK’s position in the construction industry and makes it the dominant player, especially in the area of sea and river defences.
BK has further strengthened especially in the area of sustainability with the establishment of the most recent BK Farms.
BK, during the period 1995 to 2002 has successfully completed many projects mainly in the area of sea defence financed by the IDB in excess of ten million united states Dollars.
HUMAN RESOURCES
BK prides itself on its large qualified and experienced workforce and engineering expertise which allows it to undertake major projects in Guyana requiring exacting performance. BK has in its employ professionals and consultants in every branch of the engineering sciences, permitting it to do both the planning and implementing of complex projects. BK employs over four hundred persons in the Engineering, Administration, Finance, and Personnel Departments.
SYNERGIES OF BK GROUP
These four companies operate as an integrated system, working together to support and complement the work of each other.
BK Quarries Inc. (BKQI) guarantees the supply of boulders and other quarry products to BK’s construction projects and BK Marine Inc. (BKMI) guarantees timely delivery of these products by tugs and barges to various locations in Guyana.