Guyana<\/p>\n
Contractors\u2019 transgressions from failure to start contracted works to inferior quality construction (e.g., \u201cEdghill terminates El Dorado Road contract -after contractor fails to start work \u201c, SN, Jan 14, 2023; \u201cLikely poor design caused crumbling of Burma Road\u201d, KN, Jan 11, 2023; \u201cTenders for security services and others\u201d, KN, Jan 27, 2003; \u201cPoor work being executed on the Parika-Hubu road\u201d, SN Oct 12, 2022) continue to plague the many transformational infrastructural works undertaken by the PPP\/C government.\u00a0 Why do these transgressions, described in the Auditor\u2019s reports 2019, 2020 (projects under the previous government), almost weekly media reports, letters from professionals and citizens in newspapers, citizen and Government officials\u2019 verbal complaints captured on video footage and distributed on social media, continue unabated?<\/p>\n
The PPP\/C government clearly wants to fulfill its manifesto\u2019s promises to the people. To do so it has embarked on constructing, rebuilding, and repairing a myriad of roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, government services\u2019 buildings, and energy generating plants (e.g. the gas-to-shore facility). In addition, the government approved construction of new hotels, commercial and residential buildings. Some of the latter are undertaken by the government to meet its manifesto\u2019s obligations.<\/p>\n
Guyana, an impoverished nation just prior to oil and gas discoveries and production, and the current government, is in a transitional economic state. To undertake just the ongoing construction works requires multiple planning, design, construction, and management skill sets. It seems obvious from the President and various Ministers\u2019 regular remonstrations, when visiting construction sites, that these skill sets are absent or, at least, deficient. The scale of infrastructure developmental projects is incongruent with the available technical human resources.\u00a0 In conventional civil engineering practice, the transgressions that have been noticed, agonized, and handled by the President and various Ministers are dealt at the project engineer\u2019s level, many levels below a ministerial position.<\/p>\n
After a policy decision is made, the process for construction works such as a road requires conceptualization, planning including economic viability, feasibility studies, engineering design abiding by codes and standards, specifications, contracting, project management and quality control. This process, if carried out efficiently and effectively, leads to value \u2013 getting your money\u2019s worth. The policy decision is a political one, but the process is completely technical. A politician should never micromanage the process, even if he\/she is technically qualified. The complaints that arise indicate that the process is seriously flawed.<\/p>\n
Where are the flaws? The answer requires a comprehensive study beyond this newspaper letter. However, from the reported transgressions, there are two areas \u2013 contracting and project management \u2013 that are obviously dysfunctional. The National Procurement and Tender Administration (NPTA) (https:\/\/www.npta.gov.gy\/<\/a>) processes contracts according to the Procurement Act (2003). Two types of contracts \u2013 open and sole source \u2013 are described and administered by NTPA. For details of these contractual types, the reader is advised to check out the NPTA\u2019s website given above and the Guyana Dialogue\u2019s event on January 12, 2023 (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fTbxzfK_tAQ; https:\/\/www.theguyanadialogue.org)<\/a>\u00a0for an overview. The NPTA\u2018s procedure follows international standards for transparency, non-discrimination, and meritocracy.<\/p>\n Many of the delinquent and derelict contractors were awarded contracts based on the open process. Under this process, the contract is awarded to the contractor who meets the minimum qualifications and the lowest price. A bidder with the lowest price who does not meet the minimum qualifications is a loser. This is standard international practice and not only a Guyanese practice. The winner is required to produce acceptable current evidence of qualifications and finance before awarded the contract. Sole source contracting is used when specialized or best-in-class skills or equipment or a particular commodity is required. Often, sole source contracting is associated with allegations of corruption.<\/p>\n So, why did these contractors default? Are the qualifications, which include among other requirements experience on similar projects, adequate human resources, and equipment, too low or not rigorously evaluated? Is the evidence of qualifications and finance not meticulously validated? Again, these answers require investigative reporting beyond this newspaper letter.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Regardless of the outcome of the contracting process, it is the Government\u2019s responsibility to ensure that public projects are managed to satisfy the design (embedded in engineering drawings and specifications), quality and cost. It is the writer\u2019s opinion that the crux of the problem lies in project management (\u201cAli administration urgently needs contract management for planned infrastructural boom,\u201d SN Jan 7, 2022). It is not the citizen\u2019s responsibility to report on a contractor\u2019s default, nonperformance, or noncompliance. In fact, calling on citizens to report on contractors\u2019 blunders or malpractices is detrimental. Projects must be professionally managed by experienced, technical staff. As alluded to earlier, the Government lacks the required technical human resources, or some technical staff are corrupt, or both. In addition, a master infrastructure developmental plan (blueprint), building codes and Standards are woefully absent.<\/p>\n It is commendable that the Government under the leadership of President Ali has embarked on the numerous infrastructural works to transform Guyana. The legacy of these works in improving the lives and livelihood of Guyanese requires value engineering. Quality project management is a key mechanism through which value can be realized. One way to stem the contractors\u2019 transgressions is to fast-track training in project management, state-of-the-art technology tools for project management, training and certification of contractors.<\/p>\n