Latest update February 22nd, 2025 2:00 PM
Latest News
- $277.9M Mabaruma Magistrates’ Court commissioned at Mabaruma
- Min. Indar scolds contractors over unsanctioned works days after VP Jagdeo called out ministry’s shoddy management of construction sites
- White House expects Ukraine to sign critical minerals deal soon
- Simplify cash grant distribution processes
- Peacemaker chopped after intervening in argument
I have evidence of corruption in awarding of contracts
Dear Editor,
As Guyana prepares for the commencement of our country’s tenth Parliament it is clear that, the task of addressing corrupt practices in government offices will be a huge challenge. The PPP/C’s campaign funding may be of particular interest to citizens. I make the first step to bring to the public’s attention a short list of acts of financial impropriety and herewith produce evidence based on which proper judgment can be arrived at.
The following contracts were awarded in Region Three in 2011 using the three quotation method. This method assumes that the contract sum will not exceed GYD 600,000: each – the limit for approval by the Regional Executive Officer after quotations would have been received from three different contractors. Contracts valued in excess of GYD 600,000: are required to be the subject of Public tender managed by the Regional Tender and Procurement Board. Here we go:
The contracts listed above all exceed the GYD 600,000: approval limit of the Regional Executive Officer and in each case ought to have been awarded pursuant to public tender procedures. Each of the listed contracts represents a violation and speaks to illegal control over the Tender procedure by the Regional Executive Officer and Regional Chairman who are both representatives of the PPP/C. The foregoing is but a sample of the high level of irregularities which have become routine in the operations of Region Three’s Administration.
Another example follows:
The Regional Engineer makes an error in designing a building referred to as: “Extension of San Suice Primary School” at Wakenaam, Essequibo River. The cost of that job as awarded by contract is GYD 6,527,900: which was paid in three instalments. Upon completion of the contract as per specification, it was discovered that the roof of the building was too low. Another contract was then awarded by the REO outside of the scope of his authorisation limit. This time the contractor is Ramnarine Persaud and the cost to taxpayers of remedying the engineer’s error is GYD 2,948,826:
The mad rush was indeed on to ensure that friends made money and that the campaign was well taken care of. The evidence is clear. Some of these contracts were completed hours before election day 2011. I have attached the relevant Bills of Quantity as further evidence.
Mervyn Williams
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The clock and the cloud
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Time, as the ancients knew, is a trickster. It slips through the fingers of kings and commoners... more
CARICOM Nations Should Respond Together To new U.S. Policies
By Sir Ronald Sanders Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News-Two Executive Orders issued by U.S.... more
Weekend Cartoon
