Dear Editor,
Since the letter of July 11, 2014 to SN one discovers that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has recognised many of the deficiencies referred to, concerning the current mis-management of road traffic and mis-utilisation by ‘traffickers’ in this country.
In the Chronicle ‘Pepperpot’ of July 6, 2014 there are advertisements of not one, but two, IDB funded projects, respectively described as follows, and inviting bids therefor:
a) Road Safety Diagnostic and Action Plan for Guyana (2014-2015)
b) Sustainable Urban Transport Study for Georgetown.
The implication is that the project at a) above – ‘for Guyana’ excludes Georgetown as specified in the project at b) above. Incidentally, one may even resort to wondering if it is that Georgetown is our only relevant ‘urban’ area.
For immediate answers, the elements of the respective projects are reflected in the comparative table following:
With regard to the above, “interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, etc.”
“Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.”
The above-mentioned ‘association’ of consultants is clearly a recognition of the fact that no one bidder could possibly have experienced anything close to the chaos which obtains on the highways and byways of Guyana.
More importantly perhaps would be the views of prospective consultants as to the essential differentiation between the basic elements of the two projects.
It would be of interest to learn of the respective costs of these 6 month exercises in virtual reality.
Surely it is time to call in the Public Procurement Commission.
Yours faithfully,
Earl B John
