We have sufficient information that this contractor is suitable – Minister Benn tells media

Aug 19, 2010 News

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“I think we have sufficient information that this is a suitable contractor for the building of the road.”
This was the response of a confident Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, when asked whether he had seen any evidence that Makeshwar Fip Motilall’s Synergy Holdings Inc had built a road anywhere in the world.
The minister was at the time speaking to media operatives at the OMAI Linden Wharf, where for the first time since its arrival on Sunday last, the road building equipment brought in by Synergy Holdings Inc., for the construction of the road to facilitate the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, was put on display.
When asked to elaborate, the Minister said that he was not pronouncing any more on the matter saying, “I am not saying anything further on the matter…you could go and ferret out and follow all the lines of suspicion that you have…I am telling you this is the contractor for the road project and this is the project we have committed to through this contractor.”
He stated that if in future the company defaults, “we will deal with that.”
With an inexplicable shroud of secrecy hanging over the arrival of a barge carrying equipment for a project of tremendous importance to the nation, the issue had taken on ‘cloak and dagger’ dimensions. But Minister Benn gave no indication that the media, and by extension the citizens, would be any better informed in the near future.
“I don’t have to provide that evidence to you….you go seeking the evidence…I don’t have to provide any evidence to you with respect to what the company has done anywhere or what.”
This was the blunt reponse by the minister when asked yesterday to provide evidence that Synergy Holdings Inc. did in fact build roads in Florida and Georgia in the United States.
For the record, this newspaper did undertake such a search for evidence that the company can in fact undertake the project and “Never heard of it…but I will check,” was the common response when the relevant authorities in the US were asked about Synergy Holdings Inc and its President Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall being associated with road-building.
This newspaper had checked with Florida and Georgia Departments of Transportation Procurements and Contracts divisions.
That initial search was spawned by the fact that during a press briefing at which Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Executive Director of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited Winston Brassington were asked about Motilall’s road-building experience, it was stated that he did have, and his constructions had been done in the US States of Florida and Georgia.
Checks were made at the Georgia Dept. of Transportation, Contractors’ division, at contact number (404) 631-1990, and this newspaper was also directed to the state’s website (www.dot.ga.gov) which had a list of all prequalified contractors. Motilall of Synergy Holdings Inc., was not included.
After several searches using different source data, all related to either Motilall or Synergy Holding Inc., neither name was among the list of prequalified persons, further, there was no record that any road projects were undertaken by the company.
Checks at their Florida counterparts at telephone number, (912) 576-3028, also revealed that Synergy Holdings Inc., was not prequalified to undertake road projects in that State.
Officials were not familiar with the Company’s name and undertook searches of the state’s database only to turn up empty, with respect to both prequalification or projects already undertaken.
Vested interest
Minister Benn reiterated that there was a public process and there was a choice made as it relates to the best suited company to undertake the project. It was explained that there were no more advances made to the contractor and any more monies to be handed over as it relates to the project would be for measurable works completed.
Senior Engineer Walter Willis, who was a member of the evaluation team that determined the best bid, said that the team had considered the bids and the best bid in terms of price and execution was Synergy Holdings Inc.
When asked about the advantages that Synergy Holdings had apart from the lowest price that enabled him to secure the contract, Benn said that Motilall and the company had a vested interest.
“He has a clear vested interest, well not he, I think the company has a clear vested interest in seeing that the project is finished.”
He said that the company is the holder for the permit for the construction of the hydro power dam and, “they have been working at this for a number of years”
Benn noted that aside from the advantage in price and maybe being on the ground and doing the engineering and, “other feasibility and so on,” with respect to the integrated project, “of all the persons who submitted bids, the one which has a clear vested inherent interest in the holistic integrated project other than the government of Guyana is Synergy Holdings.”
Reminded that Synergy Holdings Inc will not be executing the project related to the dam and the transmission line, Minster Benn quickly asserted that, “I am saying that right now in terms of historically, … I didn’t say whether he was doing it or not I am saying that the person who has the permit to have a dam constructed there is Synergy Holdings.”
The Minister added that the company has been working for a number of years whether by itself or in partnership with others to deliver to Guyana an integrated hydro power project.
“Of all the persons who submitted an interest in building the road, and you ask a specific question of what is the other advantage (other than the lowest bid) in respect of doing the road, I am saying clearly the one who has the vested inherent interest and who has the most information on the ground…is that company.”
When asked again for evidence of Synergy Holdings Inc building any road in Florida and Georgia, and reminded of the fact that independent checks unearthed none, Benn said, “Sir …I am telling you that Synergy Holding is the contractor for the building of this road…we have committed to that and we will do everything through our ministry to ensure he builds the road to the specifications and quality that is required.”
Senior Engineer Willis did explain that in Guyana the owner of the company did not necessarily need to be an engineer but can meet the criterion through his employees.
The breakdown of the project awarded to Synergy Holdings Inc states that the upgrade of 89km of road will cost US$3.9M; the 110km of virgin roadway US $7M, the two pontoon crossings or a bridge will be US$1.5M and ‘T’ line clearing is said to be US$3M
Willis explained that notice to proceed was given on April 15 last, meaning that the ground-shooting exercise and the survey in order to provide them with details of the design have already gone through two revisions with the last submission being on August sixth last.
He explained that at present a team is in the area assessing whether the details provided by Synergy Holdings Inc., are accurate.
It was explained there was never any delay in the actual project given that the notice to start actual construction is yet to be had, as the Environmental Protection Agency is yet to give its stamp of approval with the permit.
The field assessment has been completed and the report is currently being compiled. It is expected that when this report is submitted then permission should be granted about three weeks later.
On the question of what level of dissatisfaction there was from the government as it relates to how the project was progressing, Willis said, “I don’t think that the government is dissatisfied with the way its progressing, they are dissatisfied that the processes have been delayed…What we are doing is as per the contract.”
He blamed the rain also for hindering some of the preparatory works necessary before any permits can be issued.
Speaking to the age of and hours of work that the equipment already underwent, Willis said at the time of speaking to the press this was not known, but engineers will travel to Linden today where the necessary investigations on the equipment will be conducted.
He also noted that if the necessary expertise could not be found in the public sector then they would look to the private sector so that it can be determined whether the equipment can be used to undertake the project at hand.
When asked if the findings of the experts would be made public, Willis responded in the affirmative, but the Minister immediately intervened.
“No, no, no, I don’t think we need to get into that,” said Benn, who proceeded to explain that if for example the equipment had 1200 working hours in the past and, “there is necessity for an engine change out or something, they could do that.”
He added, “we will check to have a basis in terms of their performance…I don’t think it’s helpful to go down the road of perpetual suspicion in these matters…the equipment is here.”
Benn said that, “The equipment has to be put to work or similar equipment or additional equipment has to do the work. It is in these types of construction activity that you either buy new equipment or source leased equipment, or when there is a big construction job to finish, other people take it up…. the important thing is you have the equipment, you can change out engines to get the required hours and effort that they need on the job…I don’t want us to open a new can of worms about whether the equipment or its hours are necessarily compromised.”
On the question of the fact that most of the equipment imported is already available in Guyana Benn told the reporter, “Sir, sir…it depends maybe on the pricing. If I could buy a bulk of equipment…I notice one contractor in Georgetown, one of our big ones went and bought all of the equipment at an auction somewhere in the US…you could go up in Kingston and see it…so don’t follow that line of reasoning. If I could get a bunch of equipment at a good price overseas and bring them up there is nothing which says I must buy it here as opposed to buying it in the US.”
Willis did point out that contractually they could not instruct the contractor to buy or lease for a particular dealer given that, should something go wrong with the equipment sourced on the advice of government then it would be the government that would be blamed.
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Mahdia police ranks still immobile

For almost one month now, ranks stationed at the Mahdia Police Station remain immobile.
According to a source in the area, up to yesterday, the lone vehicle used by the lawmen was still at a mechanic shop.
This newspaper, however, has been informed that the business community has come forward to lend support.
Kaieteur News was told that the community has offered to purchase a much needed part for the vehicle.
However the police are now contemplating getting the vehicle out to Linden so that repair works can begin. “The vehicle as it is now cannot move from Mahdia so we have to first get a truck to load it onto to bring it out to Linden,” a source related.
Almost a month ago the vehicle began developing mechanical problems subsequently rendering it immobile. The issue was raised by residents of the community who first noticed the vehicle parked at a workshop in the area. When contacted a police source told this newspaper that, since the vehicle was down, they have been seeking the assistance of the business community to move around since their All Terrain Vehicle was also not in working condition.
Residents were concerned over the fact that the community is surrounded by mining grounds and the police have a very large area to cover.

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