Contracts are written and awarded in ignorance of needs in Region Nine’s facilities

Dear Editor,

The following letter was sent to the Regional Chairman, Region 9 and copied to the Regional Vice-Chairman, Region 9; Head, Standing Committee on Works, Region 9 RDC; Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Region 9; Snr Supt of Works, Region 9; Chairman, Ireng-Sawariwau NDC, Lethem; PS, Ministry of Works, Georgetown; Chief Electrical Inspector, Ministry of Public Works, Georgetown; PS, Ministry of Local Government, Georgetown, more than two weeks ago, and there has been no response or sign of technical competence in even newer projects.

The letter follows:

“Dear Madam

“As a Licenced Electrician and as a resident of Region 9, I have to enquire what system or method is used by my Regional Administration to establish the technical specifications and plans for electrical works given out to contractors. I would like to know if the Regional Administration recognises a requirement for public works to be designed and specified by persons qualified in the technical field. I am led to this enquiry by recent personal experiences.

“I was sub-contracted to carry out part of a contract to re-acid a set of solar batteries at Quarrie Primary School. I found the batteries in question have been completely dried out for over 18 months, therefore useless through sulphation. There is no such procedure as re-acid for this kind of battery, and anyone specifying re-aciding is displaying his ignorance. The inverter at the Quarrie school is defective, and the system has been down for the same period, causing the batteries to die of neglect.

“I was sub-contracted on two separate contracts, one to install a complete solar-electric system and electrical wiring, and another to replace an inverter, both at Karasabai Primary School. On attending with the contractor we found the school completely wired, powered by an existing solar-electric system well under the usual life of such a system, all wiring and components in good condition and well functioning. There is a small problem caused by starting surge in fluorescent lights, which can easily be cured by changing to electronic lamp ballasts, or upsizing the inverter, or both. There is no need or justification to replace the electrical system at Karasabai Primary School. Even if that were done, there would be no need to replace the inverter a second time. These two contracts could only have been issued through technical incompetence.

“Very recently I was sub-contracted to install a solar-electric system at Parishara Primary School. I was shown a contract involving a 2000W inverter and a deep cycle battery. On arrival on site I noted among the materials provided were a 1000W inverter and one battery which clearly did not meet the contract specification. The contractor explained that the Regional Engineer had instructed him to fit those components. I am not aware of any variation to the written contract, and I am not happy to be involved in an electrical system that will not meet the needs of the school or give value for the public funds spent.

“These are only three examples of how solar-electric systems are getting a bad name in Region 9, when they do not perform due entirely to incompetent design and irregularities in contracts, sanctioned by the legally responsible authority. In other fields too, technically qualified contractors find themselves under instructions that make no technical sense. The Region’s infrastructure is being wasted in a technical vacuum; the Region’s contractors are confused by conflicting instructions. The Region’s future is being endangered through misuse of the governmental system that is clear to see.

“I was sub-contracted to service air conditioners belonging to the Region. The contractor is instructed by the Region’s Engineer that the a/c unit has to be taken down completely and dismantled for cleaning, which necessitates an expensive re-gassing. The units in question are designed for routine service and repair as installed on the wall; taking down and dismantling for normal servicing is unheard of in this technical field. The contractor and I are hesitant to carry out instructions that are clearly unqualified.

“Last year I was contracted by the Tender Board to install two complete solar-electric systems and electrical wiring in two buildings, which I found upon attendance to be condemned as uninhabitable. I was instructed to go ahead and complete the installations, one of them in a different building, which I did, and got paid under the contract. I learned later that the other system was relocated to a different building by unqualified personnel.

“This year I was contracted to change four bulbs at a sanitary block in Karasabai. On arrival I found only one 2-foot fluorescent fitting, no bulb fittings that could have the bulbs changed. This is just one small instance of many where the works contracted are not based on the actual conditions. Contracts are written and awarded in ignorance of needs in the Region’s facilities, as well as accepted practice in the electrical field. Instructions in tender documents are often in conflict with known standards, including National Electrical Regulations of Guyana. System designs do not conform to professional practice nor to electrical common sense; especially in the solar panel field, the designs do not deliver results as paid for.

“These are accusations I have made before, and offered to prove. Seeing you powerless to deal with it within the Regional Administration, I was forced to take it to the public press. Since then the public sees no action on the part of the Government’s accounting officers. This time I intend to follow up my enquiry as to technical competence and conflict of interest in the specification of Regional works paid for by the people’s money. Since you are the Region’s accounting officer, I am asking you, and until you answer I will go on asking you, and your seniors in the chain of accountability to the people of Guyana, to explain how the state of affairs I have outlined can be tolerated under your watch.”

Yours faithfully,
Patrick Fitzpatrick
Licensed Electrician