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Georgetown, Guyana — “You’re brave though,” President Irfaan Ali remarked pointedly during a 5 a.m. meeting with government contractors and ministry officials, where he voiced serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the public works sector. The early morning meeting, part of a larger effort to address widespread project delays, focused on ethical lapses that have plagued the Ali-Jagdeo administration since 2020.
In a direct exchange, Ali questioned an engineer representing both M & P Investment and Kedar Persaud, underscoring ethical concerns about one individual bidding for multiple companies. “You’re putting bids for both companies? Isn’t that a conflict of interest?” Ali asked, adding, “How do you decide which one is going to be lower than the other?” His questions underscored the risks that dual representation poses to fair competition and transparency in government contracts.
Ali warned contractors that ongoing delays could lead to significant consequences, including blacklisting from future projects. He emphasized the need for heightened standards and accountability, noting that project delays drain national resources and burden the public budget. Ali expressed that the administration hopes to move beyond what he described as a “laissez-faire” approach to project management in government, especially as they prepare to face voters in the upcoming general election.
Ali further indicated that any delays exceeding four months, without valid justification, would lead to contract terminations, while repeat offenders or those engaged in conflicts of interest would face additional scrutiny from the national tender board. However, with the President’s identification of a potential conflict between M & P Investment and Kedar Persaud, the next steps remain uncertain. Will further action follow, and if so, when?
