Guyanese companies should get preference for contract selection

Sep 27, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

It is simply appalling to see the number of building-contracting contracts given to citizens of a particular foreign country. We are heading towards a sovereignty situation if this becomes a permanent way of doing business. It’s understandable if there are no reliable local contractors, (even from neighbouring Caribbean countries?); however, the government should change this path, going forward. Guyana should not be dominated by foreigners in the construction area, as an example; especially now that there is oil.

There is NOT a single Guyanese company, if one existed, no matter their years of existence that will ever be considered to build the smallest bridge, smallest building or shortest anything in any country in the Pacific Rim. The reason should be obvious. The readers know which country in particular I am referring to. Countries in the Pacific Rim, for decades have always (a) looked within, (b) built-up from within, (c) considered and preferred their own internal companies to build anything. That is a deliberate decision choice.
It is just wrong for our future, if certain groups of people who in private have never thought highly of us anyway, will not even consider us on a short list for the same business opportunity in their countries, much less have us as regular guests at their breakfast, lunch or dinner table; keep getting construction contracts. Yet they do come to do business among us and like our money. There is nothing racist about this comment. It is what it is.

The days of immigrating out of Guyana, if for the sole purpose of a “Better life”, for people still within employment age, is unfortunately over for the next few years, unless one is going to join family members that have their own business. Even at that, companies that have been in business for nearly 200 years are shutting their doors for good because of Covid-19. (Example: Brooks Brothers). There is economic wreckage everywhere, so I hope this government develops a policy of financially encouraging/subsidizing the local population to migrate their skills to certain areas, example construction, so Guyanese are the dominant players.

Guyanese companies should get preference for contract selection if they have already demonstrated the ability to do premium work as required in full. If no competent firm exists in a particular area, we must build-up from within the existing population, which is already there. If it’s good for the goose in those Pacific Rim countries, to have certain business practices, then it’s surely good for the gander in Guyana.

Yours truly
Chi Kansi

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