The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) says it will select bidders to finance, design, build and maintain the new Demerara Harbour Bridge through a restricted bidding process and only three shortlisted companies will be able to tender.
The decision has raised concern among observers with former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran and others saying that not only is the decision unlawful, but it seems calculated and also gives the perception that MPI seems to have already pre-selected who the contractor will be.
However, MPI says that there is nothing sinister in its restricted tendering plan and that it was formulated based on its experience that major companies do not like bidding for projects when many others will tender.
