Finding evidence of poor performance and substandard works on a number of capital projects, President Irfaan Ali on Friday announced that the Attorney General’s Chambers will be tasked with conducting a review of projects that will hold contractors, supervisors and project unit heads accountable for lapses.
“I have reviewed many projects, where basic elements of project management, like the upkeep of project ledgers, minutes and notes guiding discussions are missing or deliberately not taken, so as to avoid scrutiny,” a statement from the Office of the President (OP) quoted the President as saying.
“I have therefore asked the AG to review terms and conditions of existing civil works contracts, to tighten the provisions of those contracts. Such reviews must also ensure project managers, consultants and supervisors are also held responsible in the execution of those projects. Special emphasis must be placed on retention periods to ensure defects are corrected before projects are handed over,” Ali added.
Attorney General Anil Nandall subsequently told this newspaper that the focus of the reviews will be on “big” capital projects and outlined areas that his office will be checking.
“The focus will be the big ones, which will be capital projects. We will be checking everything, to first see if the Procurement Act was adhered to, if the works already were done to specifications and that they meet the requisite quality control. Also, if it was part of the engineer’s estimate. Most importantly, it will be to guard against abuses in variations,” he said.
“You will recall that most of these contracts were given without any parliamentary oversight and we have to go through the Budget to pick them up,” he added.
While he has no hard evidence to back up claims, Nandall said, “We believe that a lot of money was taken from contractors in acts of corruption and then contracts were awarded as a form of repayment.”
He added, “For example we have unverified information that many of the legal fees paid to lawyers in the Caribbean retained for the political cases during that five-month waiting period were actually paid by contractors, who were then gifted contracts without any resort to the legal procurement process as a form of repayment”.
Ali has emphasised that “such
action was necessary” so as to address issues of “poor performance, substandard work and delays in the timely completion of projects”.
The President, according to OP, also noted that while efforts are being made to strengthen and build local capacity, quality and value for money will not be sacrificed.
As a result, he maintained that in every community where projects are executed, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) should have a copy of the bill of quantities and scope of work. In addition, copies of those documents should be publicly displayed at a central location in the communities itself, to enhance participation and oversight.
“Contractors, supervisors, and project units must be held accountable so as to avoid pitfalls in contract delivery and value. The regional systems will also be strengthened to enhance their oversight responsibility,” Ali said.
Earlier last week, the President expressed his disappointment in the execution of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project and read the riot act during a visit to the airport in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador. He emphasised that his government will only accept the US$138m expansion works as outlined in the original contract.
Also speaking in the presence of the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company, the Project Consultant and the Project Manager, Ali said: “I am holding everyone responsible; the contractor, the consultant, the project management team…this is not acceptable for the Guyanese people. In this current position it is very clear from all that I have seen and heard, and from all the questions asked, it is very clear that something is horribly wrong. The right decision at this moment is that we cannot accept this”.
He had made the declaration following an update from the Project Manager of the CJIA Expansion Project, Carissa Gooding.
During the presentation, a statement from the Department of Public Information said, Gooding along with the project consultant failed to answer key questions posed by Ali, including about the outline of the original contract, and the details of the revised scope of works and costs attached.
In addition, Ali sought clarification on what grounds the decision was taken to omit aspects of the project. Gooding said that aspects of the airport expansion were downplayed and omitted while monies were diverted to other elements of the project. “We need answers as we have decisions to make,” Ali stated.
