What administrative calumny and recklessness, sheer eye pass

Aug 26, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
After reading in Kaieteur News (23-08-09), the reply by the Ministry of Finance, to queries related to the purchase and installation of the Stanley Town Pump and Engine, I am now totally satisfied thus – in addition to the hundreds of issues pointing to poor governance, crime and corruption, that the time has come for all patriots – opposition political leaders, all religious leaders, trade unions, leaders of the bar, the commercial community, youth, women and academic groups, the media and all concerned citizens at home and abroad, to set aside their differences and combine to put a stop to this juggernaut, parading as a democratic government.
It should be crystal clear that this PPP led Administration is now overtaken by a feeling of invincibility and only coordinated action by the so far silent majority can halt this menace from destroying the moral fabric of our society.
The response by the Ministry of Finance is the worst case of arrogance and eye pass, I have witnessed in my over 50 years of public service life.
According to the report, in response to taxpayer paying $61 million for the $11 million value, the Ministry of Finance claimed that there was only one tender, so far so good.
But are we a bunch of non compass mentis in the Republic to accept this folly?
Before any item or service is advertised, for the agency (Ministry of Finance in this case) is duty-bound to have obtained from the professional or technical staff concerned, an estimate of what that item or service should cost, sometimes we talk of a reserve price.
We are at the receiving end of regular statements to the effect that tender board procedures have been improved and are now in place.
A tender submitted that shows a substantial or worrisome variance from that estimate (in some cases called an Engineer or Architectural estimate) must be rejected and a fresh tender process started, or if the regulation permit call in the prospective awardee and negotiate, a reasonable price – was this done?
In other words, I advertise to have my house painted – I first obtain from a qualified contractor/expert the quotation of one million dollars – someone tender for six million dollars, immediately it is rejected as being outlandish and too high.
For the Ministry of Finance to have the temerity to tell us that there was only one tender, is unacceptable, then go on to the absurdity to state “if the author and Editor of Kaieteur News is able to access these items at such low cost and to execute works at cost significantly lower than are currently being paid, the Ministry would urge that they participate in future tenders by submitting through a bid etc”.
What administrative calumny and recklessness, sheer eye pass.
Every decent citizen must no longer accept this nonsense – that reply deems us all no more than a bunch, of spineless idiots – I hope I’m not alone.
This is unbelievable – where is or who are the beneficiaries of the $50 million ‘Choke and Robb’ – profit?
Who is to be surcharged if the revelations turn out to be true?
Mr. President you are right when appalled at certain happenings, could you have an investigation into all contracts for a past decade or so?Those who understand what is really happening would know why persons are not tendering for certain items procured by the Government. In the interest of justice the transparency of this government beckons us to witness transparency.
I therefore ask those in and out of parliament to request to see the list of contracts awarded for the supply of engines, pumps and allied equipment over the past 15 years – a full disclosure  showing.
1. Nature of Government work purportedly tendered for.
2. Sum awarded – What was the Engineer’s estimate?
3. Persons or firms winning the contract.
4. Location of activity.
5. And whether the project was satisfactorily completed.
6. List of state assets disposed of, the sum, and the new owners or beneficiaries,
7. Whether the sums agreed have been completely paid for, and if not, what is the existing status?
These ought not be too difficult to supply, and we expect to get answers with the same alacrity that the Ministry of Finance responded to the Stanley Town pump exposure.
Perhaps we can be told if it is true that the contractor who gets all the work to repair and fix (sic) the Sports Hall and Gymnasium is the brother of the Director of Sports?
While you are at it, Mr. President when will we see or learn of the whereabouts of the eye witness to the Lindo massacre. It looks as if we will now have a classic case of ‘mouth open story jump out’.
When will we get results of the cause of death of David Leander, charged for the killing of a Government Minister?
When will your illustrious Honourable Minister tell us the difference between torture, and “roughing up”? I am for one, anxious to add this to my personal lexicon, and of course, we will soon learn who are the intellectual authors of the Ministry of Health Fire.
Mr. President, I should not mention anything about Roger Khan since no member of your inner circle know about the honourable gentleman, who thank God is now a guest of the US security sector, but who publicly proclaimed he was helping this Government, but who now knows him not.
Yes I believe we have returned to Democracy and will get full (polygraph proof) truthful answers and comments.
If we Fail our children they will curse us – we must not fail them.
Hamilton Green, J. P.

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