– Jagdeo warns, dismisses Mahipaul’s misinformation

CONTRACTORS and officials who continue to depart from procurement laws and the standard bidding processes will face consequences, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has affirmed.

The PPP leader was at the time addressing misinformation that was being echoed by opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul in some sections of the local media.

It was reported that a regional engineer for Region Eight, through his company had won a contract to execute rehabilitation and construction of the Princeville Road, Region Eight.

At a Freedom House news conference last week, Dr Jagdeo told reporters that information revealing a conflict of interest was brought to light following a meeting with residents and other stakeholders in the region.

“I found out that he actually had a contract for $28 million and he is one of the regional engineers, who is responsible for supervising the contract and that’s why I said then that he either had to build the contract or be the engineer, you can’t be both.”

Contrary to Mahipaul’s claims, Dr Jagdeo noted that the PPP administration does not endorse these breaches of the procurement laws.

Dr Jagdeo further highlighted the ongoing efforts by the government to weed out corrupt practices within the procurement process, pointing to the numerous community engagement and meetings held in collaboration with stakeholders from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), regional executive officers and permanent secretaries.

“You can’t be an engineer in the region and then tender for a contract to work in the same region, particularly in the area you’re based in.”
The General Secretary further noted that it was during these engagements that the government was able to identify several breaches.

“We laid out every case of a breach that we had found. We said we found the following things: tampering with evaluation reports; two, we found related parties getting contracts; we found people who work for the government getting contracts in their own sector, that is, technical people, and they are getting the contract in their own region,” he said adding:
“We have found cases where the engineers are soliciting a bribe from the contractors and other government officials; we have found cases where people’s payments are deliberately withheld so that officials of the government, particularly at the junior level can solicit a bribe.”

The government, he noted, had engaged just over 2,000 contractors and regional officials.

“I explained we went out throughout the country to the regions where we heard there were serious breaches of the procurement laws of the country. There was conflict of interest and it was done in a manner without people at the centre.”

At least 14 types of transgression were unearthed, Dr. Jagdeo said.

“We laid down the line to them and said any departure from the procurement laws or the standard bidding documents you would bear consequences.

“We pointed out that only in rare circumstances should they do restrictive tender. In most cases it should be open public tender so people should have a clear picture and an opportunity to bid,” he further explained.

The government, he noted, has flagged occurrences where officials have relatives bidding on contracts.

He noted that many transgressions are now coming to light due to the engagement with residents.

“Now we have talked to people on the ground, the people are becoming embolden[ed] to expose what’s going on.”
Back in May, Dr Jagdeo had hinted at ‘sting’ operations to clamp down on officers and other personnel who engage in procurement breaches.
At that time, the government, he related, was 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.