THE release of eight containers shipped to Guyana by Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL) –- the contents of which are consigned to Government -– is dependent on a go-ahead by the Ministry of Health, with which the embattled company had a contract.

SECL had its contract terminated in September. In the latter part of that month, confirmation of the termination of the contract, which was for design and construction of the proposed Specialty Hospital, was forwarded to the principals of SECL. Alleged breaches forced the termination of the SECL engagement on the Specialty Hospital.

“The containers are currently being inspected. The inspection started Tuesday,” Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, said during a telephone interview on Thursday.

Sattaur told the Guyana Chronicle that; based on SECL’s now quashed contract with the Ministry of Health, certain items were to be supplied for the hospital; but after inspection of the SECL-shipped containers, the Ministry of Health would have to cross-reference the items in the containers with those on its requisition list, as per the company’s contractual obligations.

The GRA Head said, “At this point, we cannot point to any irregularity. The Ministry would have to say if what is there is what was requested for supply. A report will be compiled at the end of the inspection.”

Sattaur added that the GRA has enjoyed full cooperation from the management of the John Fernandes wharf, as well as from the shipping company itself. He noted, too, that the team of inspectors is taking every measure to ensure that the contents of the containers are not tampered with once the inspection has been completed.

“The release of the containers will depend on the Ministry of Health,” Sattaur reiterated.

IN COURT
SECL is currently facing a lawsuit filed by the Government for alleged breaches of contract, which forced the termination of the company’s engagement on the Specialty Hospital.

Government is suing Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL) for over Gy$100M and US$4.3 – sums that were lost in its contract with the company for the design and construction of the proposed Specialty Hospital, as well as other costs.

SECL’s contract for the design and construction of the Specialty Hospital was activated in September 2012 after a bid of US$18.1M. VIKAB Engineering Consultants Limited held a 12-month contract as a consultant on the project. VIKAB Engineering, according to Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, was working with a local evaluation team when irregularities and contract violations were uncovered.

The Government of Guyana had, since June this year, been engaging SECL on a number of issues regarding allegations of fraud and financial irregularities. Initially, the Government’s concerns were related to delayed milestones and inadequate accountability by SECL for public funds the company had received on signing the contract with the Ministry of Health, but the Government of Guyana subsequently discovered that SECL’s representative in Guyana had submitted a fraudulent document purporting to emanate from the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. The fraudulent act by SECL has since been confirmed by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

The investigation commenced after a dossier of documents had been submitted to the police by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, with a letter requesting such a procedure. Following this, a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim were filed by Mr. Nandlall on October 16, 2014.

The matter is scheduled for a hearing in the Commercial Division of the High Court on January 21, 2015 before Justice Rishi Persaud. SECL also has until 15:30hrs on January 20, 2015 to file an Affidavit of Defence relative to the lawsuit.

If SECL’s representatives fail to appear in court, judgment may be made in favour of the Government, according to the summons.