Unfair competition for the GDF to win contracts or participate in public bidding processes

Nov 17, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I read an article in the Village Voice online news on November 10, 2021, titled ‘GDF wins $44.4M contract to build hospital’. The story was also published in other sections of the media. I find the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) participating in any public bidding process, as extraordinary and am surprised that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and our Chambers of Commerce, allowed this to pass.
I will get straight to the point. The Guyana Defence Force is a state agency and is funded by the state. The President is the Commander-in-Chief, and the Defence Board is a state entity, therefore the GDF cannot bid for a government contract without the knowledge of the President and the Defence Board. Additionally, the GDF cannot participate in a public procurement (bidding/tender) process along with private sector entities. As such, this contract must be made null and void.
A few years ago, when the GDF was involved in Chartered flights, I think members from the private sector, rightfully, had issues with the decision. So what makes it right now? Mr. Jerry Gouveia is the National Security Advisor, as well as a former Chairman of the PSC. Surely, he must know that this is unfair competition and should advise the government accordingly.
Can the Guyana Defence Force indicate whether the computers, which were used to type the bid or the transportation that was used to submit the bid was not bought with state funds or donated by a foreign government? Or that the personnel who put the bid together were not trained with funds from the state or at no time received training by foreign governments.
How does a foreign government explain to its citizens that their tax paying support is contributing towards the Guyana Defence Force’s capacity to participate in an unfair competition (bidding) with the private sector? Will the salary being paid to those GDF members who will be working on this project come from the government funds or the project? Will their salaries be stopped for the period when they would be working on this project and recommence after the project is completed? Will their pension and other benefits for the period of the construction of the hospital be stopped also?
There are clear lines of demarcation for the operations of government and state agencies and the private sector which includes different accountability requirements. While I understand that members of the Guyana Defence Force are highly trained and skilled, and there is scope for greater involvement to apply their expertise to other areas of development, this must be done in the proper way. The engineers in the GDF can be seconded to the Ministry of Public Works with a supervisory or monitoring and evaluation or even active construction roles, but the GDF cannot compete with the private sector in tender processes for contracts.
President Ifraan Ali is talking up Guyana as a leader, but Guyana cannot be a leader, regionally and internationally if it does not confirm to established norms, values, and principles. What will distinguish Guyana as a leader is when our leaders and institutions adhere to regional and international principles and norms. Principles are universal and is a critical element in finding common ground with other countries, regions and internationally. Additionally, the GDF ought not to be having budgetary challenges when Guyana has US$534M in the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) or what is called the oil money fund.
This is unfair competition, and it must not be allowed.
Yours faithfully
Audreyanna Thomas

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