Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW), Vladim Persaud, yesterday said that he has recommended to the Attorney General that all contractors who have outstanding debts to the state and have not completed infrastructural projects be debarred from bidding for future contracts.
However, he was told by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that only the Public Procurement Commission has the authority to do so and his plans should be put on hold until a commission is established to address the issue.
The Auditor General’s report for the MoPW revealed that at least two contractors were overpaid for infrastructural projects and monies were still to be recovered by the end of 2016. During an examination of the audit report for the MoPW yesterday by the members of the PAC, concern was raised over the $110 million owed to the state by Courtney Benn Contracting Service (CBCS) for preparatory works for the upgrading of the La Bonne Intention to Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, highway.
