Region 3 contractors now able to bid for Govt contracts

Contractors in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are now able to partake in Central Government-funded projects, thanks to a procurement and project implementation workshop.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the workshop is one of several being undertaken by the Communities Ministry. It was hosted on Wednesday by the Ministry at Phoenix Park tarmac.
Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan explained that regional contractors, particularly small ones, have complained of being excluded from participating in Government-funded projects. This workshop, the Minister said, seeks to stop that discrimination.

“This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s response to cries from residents and contractors of discriminatory practices in the regional procurement system and it aims significantly to reduce the level of nonresponsive bids, to widen the number of contractors and suppliers executing regional contracts and to improve the quality of work executed in the Region,” Minister Bulkan explained.
Participants included small contractors, community artisans and other service suppliers who may have felt excluded from the procurement system.
The Minister noted that the workshop was designed for their empowerment and to create a new generation of reputable and reliable regional and national contractors and service providers. This will be accomplished by providing information on standard practices of project implementation and building confidence for increasing participation in Private Sector implementation projects by small and community-based contractors.
Minister Bulkan is confident that this workshop would positively impact local and economic development, improving the quality of lives in the community. In the coming months, the Ministry, with support from the regional administrations, will conduct similar workshops in other regions.