NEW GPC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, yesterday slammed a report by Stabroek News published on the said date and captioned “New GPC mum on quotation for malaria drugs supply”, noting that the media entity is seeking to malign his company through the “malicious” article.

The article states that there was a difference of over $228M between the lone bidders for the anti-malarial drugs, New GPC Inc and the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA). New GPC’s bid stood at $261, 568,442, while IPA’s stood at $32, 730,400.
Dr Ramroop was contacted by a reporter attached to Stabroek News at approximately 18:22hrs on Tuesday. The reporter, incredibly, demanded information on why the Company’s bid was so much higher than IPA’s. He informed the reporter that at the time he was not in a position to respond to the questions posed and that a call should be returned to him the following day.
The tender for the provision of anti-malarial drugs to which the two companies bid was closed earlier on Tuesday, after which evaluations will have to be done, and then submitted to Cabinet for approval or non-approval. The tender was advertised for 10 anti-malarial products and New GPC submitted its bid within the designated time-frame. The tender was specific, requesting a specific type and quantity of items. The company was guided by the specificity of products requested and outlined in the bid document.
Dr Ramroop noted that it is highly unusual for a newspaper to call and question a bidder or its representative after working hours on the day of a bid submission. “At this juncture the bidder cannot and should not comment on the bid, since it is in the domain of the National Tender Board. In any event, there is no way the bidder would know of the particulars of a competing bid and hence cannot comment on any pricing discrepancy or any other pertinent matter.”
“The reporter was just trying to sensationalise an otherwise rather humdrum report. Why drag me in, to  compare my bid to another I couldn’t possibly know about?”
The CEO believes that his company is being singled out for “vindictive attacks” by both Stabroek News and Kaieteur News. He said since his establishment of Guyana Times in 2008, the two companies persistently and viciously attacked his company. He noted that representatives of his company were present at the opening of the bid and observed 23 tenders, separate tenders also being opened, but none of the others received prominent coverage as New GPC did. “There were variations in the other categories of bids…but New GPC was singled out, why?”
He continued, “Anand Persaud, Editor in Chief of Stabroek News, knows personally about the bidding process. He also owns David Persaud Investment Company. Why doesn’t he comment on bids even before they are evaluated?
The CEO added that Stabroek News is on a “mission to destabilize his company” as it is not the first time such issues have surfaced.
“They’ve reported before on the issue of substandard and counterfeit drugs. Why weren’t their questions undermining the Tender Board directed to the IPA?” he questioned. “New GPC is not some fly-by-night company. We conduct our business professionally and we will not be goaded to undermine the bidding process.”
New GPC Inc. has utmost respect for the Tender Board and the tender process as they have always acted professionally in evaluating bids.
GPC is the Caribbean’s largest and oldest pharmaceuticals manufacturer, with a history dating back to the 1920’s.
The company has pioneered the local manufacture of Anti-Retrovirals for the treatment of HIV/Aids, Flumavir for the treatment of H1N1 Virus (Bird Flu) and a number of other finished formulations. The company is also the manufacturer of Micronutrient Sprinkles and this programme was recently publicly praised by the US Treasury Department.
The company employs approximately 180 hard-working people and has a strong relationship with the labour unions that represents its employees. It is also a major contributor to various social causes.
New GPC is one of four local and international pre-qualified suppliers of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to the Ministry of Health and Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.