– according to AG Nandlall

HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon, on Wednesday, indicated that Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL), which has another contract in Guyana, will be blacklisted.And Attorney-General (AG), Anil Nandlall, disclosed that the company’s other local engagements is not something to which the current Administration is oblivious, more so given SECL’s failures with the US$18.1M contract for the design and construction of the Specialty Hospital.
“I am aware that there is another contract. That issue is a live one, currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Office of the President,” he said.
In 2012, the contract was signed for the 14 pumps to be supplied by Surendra Engineering Company; six mobile and eight fixed site pumps, but initially the programme consisted of 39 pumps which will be placed across the coastland of Guyana. However, only 14 are to be supplied by Surendra. The US$4M award was given to Surendra Engineering Company after competitive bidding and approval by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, in 2012. The company was not contracted to build the machines, but rather to supply them, fabricate or procure from another firm, for drainage purposes.
The AG and Minister of Legal Affairs, also made it clear that to pronounce on what actions would be taken regarding the company’s continued engagement locally would be premature.
“It would be premature to say what steps will be taken, but we are aware that this contractor has other contracts with the Government of Guyana. We will be reviewing our options with regard to those contracts,” he said.

LEGAL TROUBLES
Nandlall acknowledged the other challenges facing the embattled company, in terms of current troubles with one of SECL’s sub-contractor, BK International Incorporated.
BK International Incorporated, last week, announced its move to the courts in India in an effort to recoup outstanding money owed by SECL. The move to the courts in India came after the local commercial Court lifted an interim injunction restraining Brijen Parikh, Managing Director of Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited, from leaving Guyana without settling the debt to BK International. Prior to the decision to take legal action in India, BK International had sought the intervention of the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, but did not see any progress.
BK International, a sub-contractor, is owed $180,100,242 for work done in the months of May, June and July, 2014.
BK International and Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited had entered into a written agreement for BK International to supply and drive 2000 pieces of 65-foot long greenheart piles at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. The agreed sum for the execution of the contract by BK International is $673, 978,328. Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited agreed to pay BK International for quantities of work done and certified by the engineer on site. Payment was to have been made within two weeks after submission of the invoices by BK International. This was not done.
Additionally, the Guyana Chronicle understands that SECL is also embroiled in another court case in India, regarding irregularities in its operations.
The AG contends that the current Administration has lost confidence in the capabilities of Surendra Engineering Company Limited.

(By Vanessa Narine )