|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Georgetown, Guyana — The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has raised serious concerns about the award of lucrative government contracts to companies allegedly linked to relatives of public officials.
At its weekly press conference on December 6, 2024, Ganesh Mahipaul, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, highlighted contracts awarded to a specific company, which he claims has familial ties to high-ranking members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration.
Mahipaul alleged that the company is reportedly associated with the spouse of a PPP Parliamentary Secretary and has received several contracts for major infrastructure projects in Region One. Among these were road construction, wharf repairs, and bridge works. He further stated that some of these projects remain incomplete despite significant funds already being allocated.
“The procurement process must ensure fairness and transparency,” Mahipaul urged, cautioning that perceived conflicts of interest could erode public trust. He also alleged that the company’s principal had previously worked as a regional engineer in the Ministry of Public Works before resigning under what he described as controversial circumstances. Mahipaul called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The PNCR also raised concerns about a second named company, which Mahipaul alleged has ties to another high-ranking official in Region One. According to Mahipaul, both companies have received multiple contracts through regional tender boards, with several works delayed or left incomplete. “We need an amendment to the Procurement Act to include opposition representation on tender boards,” he stated, emphasizing the need for oversight to bolster public confidence.
Mahipaul argued that amending the Procurement Act to include opposition oversight would help remove suspicions and promote transparency in government-led entities. “This will ensure that everyone can see clearly what’s happening with public funds,” he said.
However, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, addressing the issue in a recent press conference, dismissed the PNCR’s proposal. “It is something that we will never contemplate until there is a change in the culture of the opposition parties here. Their entire history has been focused on disruption,” Jagdeo stated.
Despite Jagdeo’s reservations, the PNCR reiterated its calls for a more accountable procurement system, insisting that Guyanese taxpayers deserve full transparency in public spending. “This is not about partisanship; this is about protecting the integrity of our public institutions,” Mahipaul asserted.
The PNCR maintains that reforms are essential to prevent the endemic ‘friends, family, and favourites’ PPP culture and to ensure equitable distribution of contracts and to restore public trust in Guyana’s procurement processes.
