Latest update November 8th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Terminated Surendra contract vindicates opposition – Granger

Sep 13, 2014 News

The recent admission by Government that they were cutting ties with Indian Contractor, Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited, because the company allegedly tendered a fake bank guarantee for the Turkeyen Specialty Hospital, vindicates the opposition’s worry about the project.
This is according to Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger. Granger who spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday said that from the start, his coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) while in Parliament, had taken the position that contract arrangements with the Indian company were abnormal and irregular, thus, there was no support.
According to Granger, his party was always suspicious of how the contract was awarded and “our Parliamentarians have always been outspoken from the inception.” He said that he was not at all surprised at the meltdown since the project has been very opaque from the inception.
“There has been a lack of transparency with all these mega projects and most of them are flawed and should be addressed” Granger told Kaieteur News.
Further, the Opposition Leader maintained that government should focus more on the primary health care system rather than jumping at a “Specialty Hospital”. He said that after focus is given to the primary health care system, then maybe you can look at such a facility.
“Solve the problems at the primary level and then we could study about a specialty hospital, since the opposition isn’t committed to spending monies on flawed projects,” Granger told Kaieteur News.  He insisted that his party isn’t working on hunches, but rather, advice.
Two days ago, Government announced that it was moving to sack Surendra after it discovered that the company, back in March, submitted a fake bond security, a requirement for state contracts. The bond is needed in case something goes wrong and Government has to recoup monies from the contractor.
Government also said, it was also looking to recover any monies it may have overpaid the company. The matter will also be placed in the hands of the police.
Another probe has reportedly been launched by Office of the President into the supply of US$4M in drainage pumps that Surendra has the contract for. Government has not said definitively that all the 14 pumps are here.
Since being awarded the US$18.1M contract in the latter half of 2012, Surendra received US$4.2M, representing mobilization payments and for work done. Government said it has been meeting with Surendra several times after the Ministry of Health and its supervising consultant of the project, Vikab Engineering, discovered the apparent fake guarantee.
Government has withheld all monies since March and one sub-contractor, BK International, is now claiming that it is owed over $400M for driving piles used during the foundation stage of building the hospital.
BK also claimed that Parikh skipped the country without honoring a court judgment of $180M for outstanding monies in the hospital project. But the company yesterday said that it has seen the statements of Government and will be consulting its lawyers to determine the “future course of any legal action against the Government of Guyana”.
Managing Director, Brijen Parikh, in a statement issued on Thursday said that, “all such allegations of fraud or financial irregularities are completely baseless and without any merit.”
According to the company “We trust that the Government of Guyana will not feel pressured to commit any act or do anything which has the effect of jeopardizing the project either for any political compulsions or for any other ulterior motives.”

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 6th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

CWI Cricket West Indies suspends Alzarri Joseph for two matches

CWI Cricket West Indies suspends Alzarri Joseph for two matches

Nov 08, 2024

Bridgetown, Barbados – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has imposed a two-match suspension on fast bowler Alzarri Joseph following an on-field incident during the 3rd CG United ODI at the Kensington...
Read More
ExxonMobil Futsal Championship heats up in Linden

ExxonMobil Futsal Championship heats up in Linden

Nov 08, 2024

Harpy Eagles left frustrated by weather once again in Super50 Cup no-result against Scorpions

Harpy Eagles left frustrated by weather once...

Nov 08, 2024

Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate C/ship shifted to Six Head Gym

Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate C/ship...

Nov 08, 2024

All-round Jaguars clinch 3-wicket win over Pitbulls 

All-round Jaguars clinch 3-wicket win over...

Nov 08, 2024

GSLT20 ticket sales begin tomorrow at the local box office

GSLT20 ticket sales begin tomorrow at the local...

Nov 08, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]