Dear Editor,
Cleon Chung of Chung’s Global Enterprises recently signed a $24.7M contract with the Ministry of Housing and Water for the rehabilitation of a half-mile stretch of road in Block R Sophia. His name, company name and a picture of the handover ceremony showing Chung receiving the contract from the CEO of the Central Housing and Planning Authority were posted. This got my attention because I have written Stabroek News regarding the disclosure of the names of contractors who are the recipients of government-issued contracts routinely highlighted in the newspaper. That this particular contractor was identified and previous contractors were not identified is a problem for the taxpayers of this nation. This playing politics with the disclosure and naming of contractors must end.
With the move to a centralized website for what it claims as greater access, transparency and accountability, it is time the Government of Guyana start telling the Guyanese public on that very website where it wants Gecom to post its ads, who is getting which contracts. It is time the government start telling the public where its money is going, the amounts, contract duration and winning bidder. If Cleon Chung could be named and photographed then others could be similarly named and identified. The public is entitled to know who is getting their money.
Yours faithfully,
M Maxwell
