–dire consequences for perpetrators, delays, Dr. Jagdeo says
THE Government of Guyana plans to conduct ‘sting’ operations to clamp down on officers and other personnel who engage in procurement breaches.
This was revealed by Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo at a news conference at his party’s Georgetown Headquarters on Thursday.
Dr. Jagdeo told local journalists that the government has undertaken a review of the procurement system at every level.
“Let me put on notice all of those people who are responsible for procurement in public corporations, statutory bodies, the ministries, the regions, central ministry, everywhere, all the way to the National Tender Board,” the General Secretary said firmly.
The government, he related, is examining the procurement procedures for compliance, and activities for compliance with the laws.
If persons are found to be in breach of the law, Dr. Jagdeo affirmed, they will be held accountable.
“Let me make it clear, if we find that those officers are skirting the provisions of the procurement law, then there shall be consequences for them, because too often we hear people come and they complain that in some remote parts of this country, somebody is doing something,” he said.
The government, he also related, will be scrutinising delays in processing contract payments, and dishonest supervisory on projects.
“People have to run there ten times; they have completed the work. They have to run 10-15 times to get money for work that they already did. Sometimes they have bank loans; sometimes they have other issues to deal with, because they have expended money, and they have to run there to these czars who are processing people,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
He added: “I am forewarning them; so, if you have been engaged in these practices and get caught, don’t come and later complain you have two kids or something else or you belong to some party.”
Back in April, the government had clamped down on delinquent contractors for delayed works.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali had then instructed all relevant ministries and agencies to issue letters for liquidated damages to contractors for delayed projects.
“All the projects that are beyond the contracted time, where they have exhausted justified extensions, we will issue a letter today, instructing that the liquidated damages be instituted immediately. We cannot tolerate this; liquidated damages must be instituted,” the Head of State had stressed.
Several massive infrastructural projects are underway across the country. These include the rehabilitation of small community roads, and the construction of major highways and bridges, among other initiatives geared at improving the lives of all Guyanese.
Liquidated damages are an exact amount of money, or a set formula, to calculate the amount of money a party will owe if it breaches a contract, or fails deliver on a contract.
