Govt announces close to $1B in contracts

The coalition Government has announced that it has given its approval for the awarding of close to $1 billion in contracts— ranging from road works to hydropower.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Ministry of the Presidency Director General Joseph Harmon read out a litany of contracts that were awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and approved.
The single biggest contract was worth US$2.251 million, for the supply and installation of a 150 kW hydropower plant at Chiung River, Kato, Region Eight. According to Harmon, this contract was awarded to B&J Civil Works. Other contracts dealt with road works, rehabilitation of schools, and the construction of bridges.
But this comes at a time when the Government is supposed to be in caretaker mode after losing a No-Confidence Motion (NCM). But Harmon explained the Government’s understanding of what it means to be a caretaker government. Some of the limitations on their power, according to Harmon, include restrictions on overseas travel by the President or ministers.
“In its interim mode, the Government shall exercise restraint by not engaging in any initiatives that are likely to be considered controversial, such as embarking on new policy initiatives, programmes or projects including the signing of new international agreements or embarking on new major infrastructural projects”.
“Secondly, to attend to matters considered urgent and in the public interest, such as matters of security, the maintenance of public infrastructure and systems for public health, housing and education and other routine functions. We will continue to implement projects approved by Parliament and in respect of which, contracts have been signed and work commenced before the interim period”.
According to Harmon, the Government will also ensure that new projects carried out will not be too difficult to carry out. At the same time, however, Harmon insisted that the Government still retains its full array of powers.
“Cabinet agreed that the Government retains its full powers that is Executive, statutory and common law. Ministers shall continue to exercise jurisdiction and responsibility for all agencies and departments that come under their portfolio”.
Further, he added that all public service rules remain in force and applicable and the (armed services) are expected to continue to perform and execute their statutory duties.

Caretaker rebuffed
It was only last month that the presence of a Trinidadian Minister at the Guyana Government’s investment outreach in Trinidad and Tobago had drawn criticism from a lawmaker in the twin island Republic. The lawmaker had urged his government to maintain neutrality when dealing with Guyana’s caretaker government.
The lawmaker in question was Trinidad Member of Parliament Rodney Charles, who represents Naparima. He was quoted in Trinidad’s Newsday publication berating the twin island’s Energy Minister, Franklin Khan, for being in attendance at the event.
The event, which was picketed by pro-Opposition supporters— who held placards urging the coalition to comply with the Constitution— was held by Guyana’s government at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port-of-Spain. But Charles pointed out to Minister Khan that a question mark hangs over Guyana’s government following the Caribbean Court of Justice rulings.
The parliamentarian was quoted reminding Khan that the CCJ ruled that the Guyana Government should operate as a caretaker government with the main purpose of calling elections as soon as possible.
“The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the highest Court in Guyana, recently ruled that the present government in Guyana led by President David Granger should operate as a caretaker government with the primary purpose of calling elections as soon as possible to determine the will of the Guyanese peoples. That is its only job,” Newsday quoted Charles as saying.
According to Charles in the news report, it was doubtful whether hosting the investment outreach could be classified as a caretaker responsibility. Moreover, Charles in the news report, also referenced Trinidad Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s foreign policy of non-interference.
He noted that Khan was out of order for attending the Guyana government-hosted event. Moreover, he questioned the repercussions if the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the next elections that must be held following the passage of the NCM.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has always maintained that the Government should be acting in a caretaker capacity only and not be entering into large scale contracts. Jagdeo’s position was vindicated by the CCJ on July 12, when it ruled that the Government should be in a caretaker status.
CCJ President Adrian Saunders had outlined that the Cabinet, including the President, should have already been resigned, thus, reaffirming that the APNU/AFC coalition is, in fact, and should be in a caretaker mode leading up to elections.