VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s emphasis on expanding opportunities for small contractors while maintaining strict adherence to procurement laws, is both timely and necessary, especially as Guyana navigates its rapid growth and embarks on significant infrastructural projects.

This dual message of opportunity and accountability offers hope, but also demands responsibility from those benefitting from the nation’s development boom.

The government’s commitment to inclusion, especially for smaller contractors who have historically been marginalised, is commendable.

The PPP/C’s push to democratise access to public contracts is a welcome shift that can help level the playing field, ensuring that economic benefits reach a broader cross-section of society. Jagdeo’s insistence that “we want you to succeed” to small contractors should resonate with those who have long been sidelined in the country’s procurement process.

However, opportunity cannot come without oversight. Jagdeo’s stark warnings about procurement violations and the consequences of corruption reflect a deep-seated concern for the integrity of Guyana’s developmental trajectory.

It is one thing to open the door to smaller contractors, but another to ensure that those who step through are doing so with a commitment to quality and transparency.

The Vice-President’s comments on contractors delivering substandard work are particularly poignant. In a country where infrastructure is vital to everyday life, shoddy work on roads, bridges, or public buildings can have far-reaching consequences. Not only does it affect the safety and well-being of citizens, but it also erodes trust in the government — a point Jagdeo aptly noted when he said that the public often blames the administration for poorly executed projects.

This duality — creating opportunities while enforcing strict compliance — should be the cornerstone of Guyana’s approach to its burgeoning economy. The government’s push for infrastructural development, from roads to recreational facilities, speaks to a broader vision of modernisation and growth. Yet, as these projects are rolled out, the spotlight will remain on the quality of work being delivered. Contractors, both large and small, must understand that their performance is now inextricably linked to the nation’s reputation on the global stage.

While Jagdeo’s speech laid out the ideals of inclusion, opportunity, and quality, the mechanisms for ensuring these must be robust. It is not enough to merely warn contractors about the consequences of violating procurement laws.

The government must ensure that those responsible for oversight have the tools, autonomy, and courage to hold all contractors accountable, regardless of their political affiliations.

Guyana stands at the crossroads of immense growth and transformation. The opportunities for small contractors to participate in the country’s development are greater than ever, but with these opportunities come significant responsibilities.

The government’s message is clear: play by the rules, deliver quality and all of Guyana will benefit. However, this must be backed by a robust and transparent system of oversight, one that ensures fairness, integrity, and the consistent delivery of high-quality public works. If this balance is achieved, Guyana’s future — and that of its contractors — will be bright.