Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) says it is extremely concerned at the recent allegations of irregularity in the tendering process for the US$18.1 million specialty hospital and it welcomed the government decision to review the contract.
It noted in a statement today that Surendra Engineering, which was given the green light for the project, had no experience in constructing hospitals, while the complainant in the matter, Fedders Lloyd had bid lower and had also formed a consortium with Nous Hospital Consultants which has expertise in building hospitals.
It also pointed out that Fedders had cited a series of irregularities in the process while the Health Ministry had disputed this and said that the company was disqualified on administrative grounds though it was not clear what these were.
TIGI said it recalled the poor tendering decision to award a substantial contract to Synergy Holdings to build a road to Amaila. Synergy had no proven competence in building roads. As expected that contract had to be terminated because of the failure of Synergy to complete, which was not unexpected.
“With this in mind Transparency Guyana reasonably expects that the government and indeed all taxpayers would not wish such a re-occurrence which ultimately brings to bear a heavy burden on the people of Guyana.
“In this regard Transparency Guyana welcomes the government’s decision to reassess the award of the contract in view of a protest being lodged with the Ministry of Health by Fedders. TIGI urges that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible and that in the interest of transparency the public is informed of the results.
In the interest of accountability the public must ensure that it is getting value for money and that the project will be professionally executed and completed by those best qualified to do so.”
