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Economic Advisor to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Elson Low was adamant at the party’s press conference yesterday, November 9, 2023, “The PPP’s elite friends, family, and favorites policy is costing Guyanese dearly. Citizens were alarmed and confused when they heard that an $865 million infrastructure contract was awarded to a recently formed company associated with the individual known as Guyanese Critics.”
Low highlighted that it was Member of Parliament David Patterson who noted the company “did not meet the minimum experience criteria set out in the procurement rules”, and “brought this matter to the attention of the Public Procurement Commission” (PSC). He stated that after the Commission decided to investigate this award, they were subsequently “denied the information by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), a shocking act of obstruction. This is unacceptable,” the Economist stated.
This was pointed out as a further breaking down of the guardrail of our democracy as the PSC, a constitutional body, is legally entitled to access documents relating to matters of procurement from any procuring government entity. “It must not be obstructed. Denying this Commission has not only undermined Guyana’s institutions, it has raised the public’s suspicion even further.”
Low said, “NPTAB hiding the details of the award of a contract for nearly a billion Guyana dollars. to a known PPP supporter, no less, raises red flags of corruption at the highest levels. It is a classic example of the PPP’s elite friends, family, and favorites policy when it comes to the allocation of the nation’s resources.
It is inconceivable that rather than supporting the Public Procurement Commission, he would say that that body should not have threatened to go to court over NPTAB’s non-cooperation, but rather ask the President for assistance. Jagdeo seems to believe that Guyana is a dictatorship and that its laws are meaningless.
The Public Procurement Commission must be treated with respect. Our courts must be treated with respect. Guyanese must stand up against this casual tyranny, a tyranny which is becoming more prevalent daily. Jagdeo’s bizarre attitude, however, has also raised questions about his own involvement in this matter,” he said.
