Puran Bros. says Cevon’s assertions mischievous and erroneous

Jul 22, 2016 News

Puran Bros in a statement Wednesday, addressed an article that was published in the Sunday, July 17 2016 edition of Stabroek News captioned “Cevon’s group protests award of $221M landfill contract”
Puran Bros made it clear that it accepts and respects the fact that individuals and entities reserve the right to engage in an appropriate protest as a result of any unfavourable bid, venture or endeavour.
The group however noted that such protests are often unfounded, as is the case of the one made by Morse Archer of the Cevon’s group.
In addressing that Cevon’s contends that there was a rush to sign the contract which it claimed to be “kind of fishy”, Puran Bros said that it submitted the bid, along with the other bidders, on March 22, 2016.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon announced that Cabinet had given its no objection to the award of the contract to Puran Bros. on June 29, 2016.
Puran Bros stated that the company was formally notified that it was the successful bidder on July 5, 2016. The contract was subsequently signed, in the presence of the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan and members of the media on July 14, 2016.
The group said that in retrospect, looking at the timings between each of the processes, “it is difficult to comprehend where the rush was and the ‘fishy business’ that Archer referred to. We believe and are satisfied that during such time due diligence was taken by the Procurement and Evaluation Committee and the Ministry of Communities in reviewing all bids received.”
One of Cevon’s issues was that the entity found it “difficult to accept that Puran Bros would be delivering at 32% below engineer’s estimate.”
In response to this, the Puran group highlighted the fact that it has been managing and rehabilitating landfills in various parts of Guyana for well over eight years. The experience, the management stressed, provides experience and the necessary knowledge of operational costs and financial forecasting in managing the Haags Bosch site.
“We stand firm that the bid price supplied will not only ensure that the site will be effectively managed in compliance with contractual and globally accepted specifications/ conditions, but ensure that our company makes a profit.”
In a further statement, Puran Bros stated that it did not partner with any other individual or company in the bid since the company has all the requisite machinery, equipment and human resources to operate at the Haags Bosch Landfill Facility.
The company pointed out that Cevon’s partnered with two other companies which would mean if Cevon’s was successful in its bid, the partnership would have had a three-way split in profits.
With Puran Bros. not having to do so, it is therefore justifiable that our bid was considerably less than that of the partnership bidder.
Cevon’s having a more technically qualified team in the area of technical competence.
Puran Bros said, “They will not get involved in “mud-slinging” when it comes to contending who is more technically qualified and competent to manage the landfill facility.”
They asserted that their team comprising Hubert Urling, Rufus Lewis, Shawn Daniels and Bissoondyal Singh are all well qualified and have decades of experience in solid waste management, including landfill operations.
Puran Bros. was partnering with BK International Inc. and was executing maintenance when the site was “messed up”.
The group noted that they had issued a press release that clearly outlined that they had never been part of the construction and operations of the Haags Bosch Landfill Facility.
“Further, our lawyer sent a notice of termination to Mr. Brian Tiwarie, Managing Director of BK International Inc., which clearly informed him of our withdrawal from the joint venture and instructed that he desist from using Puran Bros. name on any correspondence, documentation, billboards etc.”
According to the company, the Ministry of Communities and the Inter American Development Bank was also informed of their withdrawal.
Puran Bros went on to say that the assertions made by Archer that Puran Bros. was executing maintenance when the site was “messed up” is against the backdrop of what is now public knowledge and is not only erroneous but very irresponsible and mischievous.

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