Gov’t halts Reg 4 awarding of small contracts for additional transparency checks

The Government on Saturday announced that a decision has been taken to suspend the awarding of contracts for small contractors undertaking projects valued at $15 million and under so that further verifications and checks could be conducted.

According to the Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, the Government over the last several months engaged in a public pre-qualification process for small contractors undertaking projects aimed at enhancing transparency, ensuring fairness and accountability, and promoting widespread participation and involvement in national development opportunities.
He added that this is in keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration’s manifesto promise as a measure of empowering small contractors.
This process, which was noticed by all and open to all, commenced on March 2, 2026, and ended on April 6, 2026.
In a missive to the public, the Minister added that pre-qualification was published on the recently launched centralised procurement website (eprocure.gov.gy), designed to make all public procurement opportunities easier to access, as well as in the customary daily newspapers.
As such, a team comprising both technical staff and Government Ministers conducted verification exercises on the ground to scrutinise the list for various errors and anomalies, including duplicate submissions and same-family/household ownership of businesses/companies, with the aim of ensuring no family or individual was benefiting unduly to the detriment of others.
“Over the last few days, Phase One of awards/signing of contracts was initiated in a public manner with the utilisation of public spaces. This phase involved the award of contracts for projects being executed by the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development through its regional offices,” the release added.
However, during that process in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), he reported that several complaints were received, and based on information reviewed, a decision was taken to suspend the process until further verifications and checks are conducted.
“The Government of Guyana, through its various procuring agencies and Ministries, will continue the engagement as soon as it can be ascertained that all issues raised are satisfactorily addressed,” the Minister stated.
Further, he reiterated that this massive undertaking, with the engagement and evaluation of more than 10,000 persons who submitted applications utilising the aforementioned online platform, should not be seen as a simple task.
“Our promise to the people of Guyana will be fulfilled – ensuring equal opportunities, equal access, and advancing the vision of One Guyana, where every citizen, regardless of background or region, can share in the nation’s progress and prosperity,” Minister Edghill related.