A total of 389 small contractors in Berbice were awarded almost $7 Billion in Government contracts on Tuesday to undertake various projects in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region. The contracts were awarded outside of the tender process.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was in Berbice to oversee the exercise, said the Government devised the new system so that more contractors could benefit.
According to the Vice President, the Government has been faced with complaints from contractors who have been bidding for projects, but have not been receiving awards.
He said the move to bypass the tendering process is also to address an “unconscionable” situation where a number of persons within a single family are awarded multiple contracts at the same time.
“If we go that route, we will not be able to broaden the contractor core and secondly when people find this out because ultimately, they will find it out, you don’t get the blame, we do, the first thing they say is the People’s Progressive Party tolerating this and is something we are very intolerant of,” Mr. Jagdeo said.
Mr. Jagdeo said there are about 2,000 new contractors in the system. He admitted that there are difficulties that are being addressed.
“Do not pay any bribe to anyone who tell you they help you get this work, nobody help you get the work, you get the work because of your own effort, the government wants this to happen so don’t let that happen. Secondly, if anyone solicits a bribe from you for doing shoddy work, any engineer or anyone, you let us know,” Jagdeo told the contractors.
Further, the Vice President urged the new contractors to ensure that their works are completed up-to-standard and within stipulated time.
He said the awarding of a contract should not mean wastage of taxpayers money and said strict measures will be in place to ensure that contract guidelines are followed.
“But we also have to leave room for the big contractors to grow, those who are there and who have bought a lot of equipment etc. So, another $7B of work will be tendered shortly but these are for people who have greater capacity but that is where you will be judged on the basis of your bid,” Jagdeo said.
The Government continues to face criticism about the way it has been handing out Government contracts. The Opposition has accused the Government of mostly catering for its “friends and families”.
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