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Georgetown, Guyana — The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling out the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration following President Irfaan Ali’s early morning meeting on November 12, in which he castigated public officials and contractors over widespread delays in government infrastructure projects. The AFC says that Ali’s criticism of contractors and engineers is an attempt to deflect responsibility from his government’s own failures and systemic issues within Guyana’s public procurement system, which the AFC describes as “inequitable” and prone to favoritism.
The meeting, streamed live at 5:30 a.m., saw President Ali demand accountability from government ministers, permanent secretaries, and contractors on incomplete projects, warning that delays would not be tolerated. He reprimanded contractors for failing to meet deadlines, even those who, he claimed, “come to the Ministry of Education to collect payment but…can’t come to a meeting where they’re behind on the project.”
Ali’s frustration was palpable as he underscored a pattern of absenteeism and poor communication among contractors and engineers. He warned that any projects not completed by the year-end deadline would be terminated, and contractors might be blacklisted. “If you don’t have the right structure, organization, and attitude, you’re starting negatively because you’re not conditioning your mind for success,” Ali told officials, urging a shift in project management attitudes.
However, the AFC counters that the real issue lies within the government’s own procurement process, particularly at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), which the AFC says has been accused of awarding contracts using arbitrary evaluation criteria and favoring bidders with questionable track records.
In its November 13 statement, the AFC highlighted that the NPTAB has drawn public ire for allegedly bypassing the lowest bidders to select contractors based on political affiliations rather than merit. The AFC noted that Tepui Group Inc., affiliated with the popular social media figure Mikhail Rodrigues, also known as “Guyanese Critic,” was granted a high-value contract despite missing multiple project deadlines and failing to meet evaluation criteria.
“Is this a misguided attempt to save his government face from allegations of corruption through the national procurement system, now that the 2025 elections loom?” the AFC queried in its statement. The AFC also accused Ali of hypocrisy, pointing out that many of the contracts in question were awarded to companies with close ties to the government.
The AFC’s statement goes further, advocating for public servants to uphold integrity in their roles, even amid perceived pressure from government officials. It encouraged public servants to “document all acts which you regard as either illegal or unethical,” emphasizing that public office should adhere to procedural fairness, honesty, and accountability.
Ali’s 5:30 a.m. meeting, though aimed at tackling delays, has fueled further debate about transparency and favoritism in government contracting. With calls for a full review of awarded contracts, observers are now urging the administration to ensure an even-handed approach to oversight across all projects and contractors.
