Managing Director of Swansea Industrial Associates, Christian Duncan, has defended his company’s shortcomings in the Carifesta contract, blaming these on the late release of the contract funds.
Stabroek News understands that Duncan has written to President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony on the issue.
According to information received, Duncan’s letter to Anthony admits that there may have been some shortcomings on the part of his company, but attribute them mainly to the late release of the funds. It has been reported that the contract was only confirmed on August 15.
Duncan said the secretariat knew that equipment had to be imported for the execution of the project and that this required a minimum of two weeks to allow for the proper acquiring of equipment and personnel. He said although he knew that his company was attempting a difficult task, he agreed to do so under persuasion and after considering the magnitude of the event. But he maintained that it was because of the late release of the funds that his company was unable to get all the necessary equipment delivered on time.
The letter went on to say that not all of the equipment made the intended flight on August 19 and it took special arrangements to get the equipment to Guyana on time. He said that as a result of the President’s intervention a further $2 million was allotted. The GDF and two private aircraft were hired on August 21 to transport equipment from Trinidad and Tobago and the last piece of equipment arrived at the stadium at 3 am on the day of the opening ceremony. He said personnel from both Trinidad and Guyana worked assiduously to ensure that all the acquired equipment was properly set up.
According to Duncan’s letter, the poor lighting could only be attributed to the fact that no rehearsals were held with the lights owing to their late arrival. As such, he as the contractor was unable to ascertain the correct positioning for the lights.
Stabroek News had been told that the lights were expected to highlight some special Amerindian motifs that were painted on the field.
Duncan reportedly said that his company was prepared to acknowledge all legitimate shortcomings, but it was not “prepared to engage in any mudslinging or buck passing in the deficiencies noted.”
Meanwhile, in his letter to Jagdeo, Duncan attempted to explain the circumstances concerning a disagreement between him and some of the officials involved in the closing ceremony. The disagreement had apparently prompted the President to contact Duncan.
In this letter, the contractor claimed that his company was asked at a very late stage to provide power for the spotlights set up near the Carifesta Pyramid- a special feature of the closing ceremony.
He said that while he was at the stadium making preparations for the closing ceremony, he observed several spotlights being set up at a particular part of the ground. He later learnt that these were erected to provide lighting for the Carifesta Pyramid. At a very late stage, he was asked by one of the MCs of the closing ceremony to supply power to the spotlights. At this point, he told the persons in charge that this would not have been possible. It was after this discussion that President Jagdeo reportedly made contact with Duncan.
Duncan said his company eventually solved the problem adequately, but had the organisers indicated their desires earlier, their particular requests could have been met.
In the letter, Duncan apparently threatened legal action against members of the Carifesta Secretariat, whom he said were making several false statements about him.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Chambers is investigating an alleged breach of contract by Swansea, Chief Executive Officer of the Carifesta Secretariat, Nigel Dharamlall, said.
When contacted, Duncan declined to comment saying that if he did, it would be a breach of a confidentiality clause in the contract.
Last week, Duncan had said that he had fulfilled all of his contractual obligations and denied receiving correspondence from the Ministry of Culture or the Carifesta Secretariat about any breach of contract.
At the time, it was reported that a member of the secretariat staff had alleged that the company failed to deliver on several of its contractual obligations.
Dharamlall said the matter was initially being dealt with by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, which awarded the contract. However, he said, the matter has since been transferred to the Attorney General’s Chambers, which will decide how the matter will be settled. Artistic Director, Dr Paloma Mohamed, confirmed this, but she refused to provide further information on the issue.
Anthony had told this newspaper that all the contracts signed for services during Carifesta were being reviewed. Dharamlall, meanwhile, added that under this review the quality of the services rendered would have been examined. He said that if these services were determined to be inadequate, requisite actions would follow”. The CEO identified the institution of fines, rebates, compensation or litigation as possible penalties.
