Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce building roads and drains

Apr 21, 2014 News

Apparently the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has extended its portfolio to include the construction of roads and drainage structures.
In an advertisement in yesterday’s Chronicle, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce invited suitably qualified contractors to submit tenders for the construction of roads and RC drainage structures at Lethem Industrial Estate, Bon Success, Rupununi District, Region Nine, Essequibo.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali

Observers are questioning the rationale of having the roads and drains constructed by this Ministry.
According to an observer, while this Ministry is responsible for industrial sites, it is highly unlikely it would have the expertise of Clerk of Works or Engineers to effectively monitor and evaluate the project.
“Perhaps Minister Irfaan Ali, who also has responsibility for the Ministry of Housing, would utilize the skills of technical personnel of the Ministry of Housing to monitor this project,” one observer stressed.
During the National Budget 2014 debates, Joseph Harmon, A Partnership for National Unity’s Parliamentarian had expressed concern about the decentralization of the construction of roads and bridges.
Harmon related that in Guyana, the construction of roads and bridges is not limited to the Ministry of Public Works but is divided among other entities such as the Ministries of Housing and Natural Resources and the Environment.
This contributes to communities being exposed to different qualities of roads and contractors are allowed to get away with bad practices while citizens’ complaints are not heeded.
“Our demand is that this practice must be put to an end…Make one Minister responsible for roads and bridges in Guyana. If Minister (of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson) Benn can’t do it, straighten him or his Ministry. In an APNU Government this will be a priority,” he said.
According to the advertisement, tender document for the project would be available from April 22 at the Ministry. A non-refundable fee of $25,000 would be charged. Tenders should be submitted no later than May 13 to the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
It was noted that each tender must be enclosed in a sealed, plain envelop, which must not, in any way identify the company placing the tender.
The advertisement stated that each tender must be accompanied by valid compliance certificates from the Guyana Revenue Authority and National Insurance Scheme. Tenders without valid certificates will be disqualified.