THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) intends on writing the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), requesting that an investigation be launched into alleged breach of the Procurement Act by Government when they awarded Dutch firm LievenseCSO a contract to do a feasibility study for the second Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC), in an investigation report on the award of the contract, said the Ministry of Public Infrastructure contract with the Dutch firm breached the country’s Procurement Act. “We are in the process of sending a letter to SOCU to ask for criminal charges to be laid against people in the Demerara Harbour Bridge corruption scandal,” said Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference on Thursday.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) on Monday denied breaching the Procurement Act when it awarded Dutch firm LievenseCSO the consultancy services for the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge. “MPI rejects and strongly condemns the misinformation campaign by the opposition leader and what amounts to unwarranted attacks by him on the integrity of dedicated public servants,” the ministry said in a statement Monday.

It added that around the same time of reaching agreement with the National Tender & Procurement Administration (NPTA) on the annulment of the process, an unsolicited proposal was received from LievenseCSO Infrastructure & Environment with Econovision and Ace Consultancy, one of the shortlisted firms.

Jagdeo contended that it was not a lengthy procurement procedure, but standard process which involves bids, negotiations and awarding contracts. He believes that if the process failed, they should have re-tendered instead of going ahead with an unsolicited bid.

“Cabinet should have sent the request back immediately to the minister because nothing in our laws say that the minister can bypass NPTA to take a contract to the cabinet for approval,” said the opposition leader. Under those circumstances, the opposition believes that SOCU should move fast with the request so that criminal charges could be laid.

The MPI in an attempt “to set the record straight” had said advertisements were placed in November 2015 for the feasibility study for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge. An Evaluation Committee was established by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and that committee comprised Balraj Balram (coordinator) Permanent Secretary, MPI; Patrick Thompson, Chief Transport Planning Officer, Work Services Group, MPI; Rawlston Adams, General Manager Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and Omar Bispat, senior engineer, Central Housing & Planning Authority, Ministry of Communities.

The report said too that Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, by a memorandum dated November 18, 2016, called on Cabinet to consider and approve the use of funds from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) (Asphalt Plant Accounts) “to study the feasibility and to commence a contractual engagement with LievenseCSO, as of the 1st January, 2017.” Cabinet considered the memorandum and on November 25, 2016, approved $161.5M to be used from the DHBC (Asphalt Plant Accounts) to cover costs of the feasibility study for a new bridge across the Demerara River.

“MPI reiterates that lengthy procurement procedures were faithfully followed which did not yield suitable results. Having, thereafter, received a proposal which satisfied the government’s requirements for this project of national importance and given the relevant time constraints, it was felt that it was in Guyana’s interest to take advantage of the proposal. It is for this and other stated reasons that Cabinet’s approval was sought,” the statement noted.

“There is and has been an urgent need for a new bridge across the Demerara River and government is cognisant of this and has taken every decision, within the law, to ensure that the realisation of a new bridge is not unduly delayed. The people of Guyana deserve nothing less,” the statement added.