Days after NTC promise: Govt uses Procurement Act powers to raise community contract ceiling to $30M 

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has amended Schedule Two of the procurement regulations to increase the threshold for restricted tendering of projects for remote communities from $5 million to $30 million.
In the new gazetted regulations, cited as Procurement (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and published on July 24, the change notes that “Schedule 2 to the Principal Regulations is amended in paragraph 3 by substituting for the figure ‘$5,000,000’ the figure ‘$30,000,000’.”
Schedule Two of the Procurement Act Chapter 75:03 deals with the Exceptions to Open Tendering, which are covered in Sections 26 to 29 of the Act. Paragraph Three speaks to Section 29, which allows for “circumstances where procurement is conducted in poor remote communities where the competitive procedures are not feasible”.

Under these circumstances, goods and services may be procured “in accordance with procedures that promote efficiency through participation of community organisations or through single-source procurement from direct contracting of suppliers or contractors located near the community.”
The Minister made the change in the exercise of his powers conferred upon him by Sections 29 and 61 of the Procurement Act with the advice of the National Tender Board.
Last week, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the Administration will be increasing the value of contracts that can be awarded directly to communities from $5 million to $30 million, a move aimed at significantly expanding hinterland community participation in development projects across Guyana.
Speaking at the National Toshaos Council Conference (NTC), he had said the adjustment will allow villages and communities to undertake larger projects and benefit more directly from Government investments.
“We will raise the limit at the tender board for communities from $5 million to $30 million. We will get this done before you leave so that we can give to the village a contract of up to $30 million. In the past, it could have only been $5 million. That will change significantly the level of community participation,” Jagdeo had said.
The VP made the announcement while discussing the Government’s allocation of $10 billion this year for hinterland road infrastructure. He noted that while some of the funding has already been committed to major projects, the increased contracting threshold creates an opportunity to revisit how a portion of the remaining funds can be allocated and executed.
Among the major projects already earmarked for funding are the continued construction of the road from Moruca to Kwebanna in Region One (Barima-Waini), improvements to the road network from Mabaruma to Wauna, and upgrades to key roadways in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).