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Public Works Ministry lacks competency to execute development projects

Aug 27, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

In an article which appeared in the news media on August 24, it was reported that the Public Works Minister (PWM) exhorted Guyanese to ensure that contractors produce superlative projects and that they should report instances of sub-standard works executed within their communities.
Firstly, contractors do not execute development projects to produce superlative showcases in order to satisfy their whims and fancies, but do so in accordance with their contractual obligations, as they are specified in their contracts’ drawings and specifications. Secondly, construction sites could be dangerous areas and generally, the public is not allowed to wander around them because of safety and liability concerns. Therefore, it appears that the minister is opening a ‘can of worms’ for the Government when he should be addressing the problems his Ministry faces. Further, it is difficult to comprehend how the public’s oversight of the construction of development projects for the Ministry of Public Works would give Guyana value for money, as the minister claims.
The minister expressed his concern about the over-payment to contractors for contract works not done. However, it seems that he has failed to address the problems at its source and is skirting the issues with extraneous proposals instead of employing competent professionals, discipline corrupt staff and award contracts only to qualified contractors. A development project is usually designed by competent professionals, who prepare the drawings and contract specifications. A contract for construction of the project is then put out to tender. A qualified, not necessarily the lowest, bidder is then selected who should, among other qualifications, have the experience and financial capability to execute the works. Supervision of construction is done either in-house or by selected competent professionals. A development contract would be either lump sum or itemised with each item priced accordingly. Before construction starts on a lump-sum contract, the contractor should be required to itemise his contract with appropriate cost and time. This itemised breakdown of his lump-sum contract with respect to cost and time is then reviewed by the client. Both parties have to be in agreement with this document before construction starts and then it becomes part of the contract document.
The supervisor monitoring construction uses this document, together with the contract drawings and specifications, to check construction progress and authorises partial payments to the contractor. He also recommends to the client when the contractor fails to perform and clauses in the contract document would state the penalties to be applied, including cost recovery for non-compliance.
The minister has the responsibility to check that development projects are designed, and their supervision of construction is carried out by qualified professionals. If over-payment to any contractor is found, the minister should check if any malfeasance was committed. If found, he should have then taken appropriate disciplinary action, including cost recovery, against those responsible; but he should not expect the public to do the work what the Ministry of Public Works has paid contractors to do.
It is evident that the Ministry of Public Works as well as other Government ministries lacks the technical competence to execute development projects, as many of the contracts being executed throughout the country have been suffering from large cost and time overruns, as well as the execution of sub-standard work. Therefore, there is urgent need for the minister to institute a system to vet the quality and competence of contractors, as well as the Ministry of Public Works personnel responsible for the planning, design and contract execution of development projects. Where applicable, appropriate action should be taken against those who fail to perform in accordance with their mandate.

Yours truly,
Charles Sohan

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