Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has revealed that there is a part of the Laws of Guyana which states that 20% of all contracts must be given to small contractors on an annual basis.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the minister made this revelation on Monday when he met with the executives of the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG).

Harmon says that law was never activated, indicating that he will collaborate with Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson to activate it soon.

According to the release, the Minister of State is adamant that this move would be one way of ensuring that small contractors “get a piece of the pie”.

“If the country gives out 10 billion dollars in contracts per year, 20% of that should go to small contractors”.

He says 20% is a sizeable part of what goes out every year, and urged GCAG to insist on that measure in addition to other recommendations and advocacy in which the association may want to engage, on behalf of the contractors.

Minister Harmon further declared that 2016 is the year when the Government of Guyana will rebalance procedure before contracts are awarded. He has indicated that Government has begun to have a “fresh look” at the qualifications of contractors for jobs.

He noted too that policy decisions on the NIS and GRA compliance will soon be made.

“In the next budget the Minister of Finance will announce certain restructuring where NIS is concerned and where taxation is concerned that will basically try to have everybody brought into a tax net that will allow you to make sure you get your GRA compliance and these other compliances much quicker”, he told the GCAG Executives.

Additionally, he pointed out too that the Minister of Business and the Minister of Public Infrastructure have been given clear mandates to ensure conferences are facilitated for new contractors.

Meanwhile the GCAG Executives told the Minister of State that the association believes that “it is time to move the construction industry back in place”.

GCAG says the skills, ambition, dedication and mentorship are the available driving forces for this to be achieved. The association is also calling for a fund, or mechanisms set up to lend financial support for small contractors in order to propel their businesses.

Minister Harmon says he is pleased with the efforts of GCAG thus far, as he believes that the association can contribute to ensuring that standards prevail in the contracting industry. He is resolute that contracting standards are important as they will determine Guyana’s advance level and how the country can progress.