{"id":5219,"date":"2018-04-19T12:30:36","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T17:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectcalls.com\/?p=5219"},"modified":"2018-04-18T15:02:29","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T20:02:29","slug":"a-renegotiated-illegal-contract-is-still-an-illegal-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/a-renegotiated-illegal-contract-is-still-an-illegal-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"A renegotiated illegal contract is still an illegal contract"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Editor,<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnder the law, we can initiate parking meters in Georgetown, and we will. No matter how many people you bring to gather and make noise outside, that doesn\u2019t change the position of Council. Council has a right and Council will carry out that right.\u201d \u2013 Oscar Clarke, PNCR Councillor. This arrogant and distasteful statement sums up the contempt that the Mayor and City Councillors hold for the citizens of Georgetown who for months stood up for their right to reject this most corrupt and despicable contract with Smart City Solutions. From the utterances of Oscar Clarke who is one of the fantastic four that went on the all-expenses paid jaunt to Mexico at the behest of SCS, one would believe that only the M&CC has rights even if it means strangling the working class citizens of Georgetown.<\/p>\n<p>It has already been established that the contract the M&CC signed with SCS has breached all the local procurement laws and Section 231 of the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01 which clearly states that contracts in excess of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars must be advertised for public tendering. The Government of Guyana through its Ministry of Finance also acknowledged this breach in their June 23, 2016 review of the SCS contract when they stated inter alia that \u201cgovernment procurement procedures may have been violated, in that a tender was not advertised and bids reviewed for acceptance\u2019\u201d and recommended that the project be \u201cre-tender[ed](assuming that it was done before\u2026).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Notwithstanding all of this, the M&CC seems proud that they have accomplished the impossible, which is to have successfully renegotiated an illegal contract. This is comedy at its best. How can an illegal contract be renegotiated? What\u2019s more, this renegotiation was done by none other than the newly anointed deputy Mayor. One wonders, is the deputy Mayor qualified to renegotiate a multi-million dollar, forty year contract? Was legal representation present during the renegotiation? Were the feasibility and social impact studies, which are key prerequisites for contracts of this nature and magnitude produced for scrutiny? Who reviewed these studies? In the absence of these studies to determine the levels of fees and fines, one can only assume that the new rates were pulled out of a hat and the so called renegotiation is nothing but a sham.<\/p>\n<p>The consequences of the parking meter project are far reaching. It will impact negatively on businesses and reduce the disposable income of the average worker who already faces severe economic conditions. Low disposable income means lower sales for businesses and lower VAT and other tax payments to GRA. Would poor sales be the final straw for businesses that are already struggling in an anaemic low growth economy to start laying off staff? It was recently announced that the economy only grew a meagre 2.1% in the first quarter of this year, well below the projected target. Do the Mayor and Councillors who voted for the resumption of the project truly understand the hardships that their actions are going to impose on the ordinary Guyanese who are trying to make a living?<\/p>\n<p>\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stabroeknews.com\/2018\/opinion\/letters\/04\/17\/a-renegotiated-illegal-contract-is-still-an-illegal-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Image:\u00a0\u00a0Pixabay (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pexels<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Editor, \u201cUnder the law, we can initiate parking meters in Georgetown, and we will. No matter how many people you bring to gather and make noise outside, that doesn\u2019t&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":3042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[112],"tags":[173,116,146],"class_list":["post-5219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-newsdevelopments","tag-contracts","tag-guyana","tag-procedures"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/document-agreement-documents-sign-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1280%2C851&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-1mb","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6133,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/parking-meter-contract-back-at-cabinet\/","url_meta":{"origin":5219,"position":0},"title":"Parking meter contract back at Cabinet","author":"Michele Marius","date":"July 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The revised but still controversial parking meter contract is back with Cabinet which has decided to refer the document to a sub-committee, amid ongoing concerns by several sections of Georgetown, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said Saturday. He said Cabinet on Tuesday- June 12, 2018- decided that a Cabinet sub-committee\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News\/Developments&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Parking-meter-ehendel-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Parking-meter-ehendel-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Parking-meter-ehendel-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Parking-meter-ehendel-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25270,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/anti-corruption-oversight-needed-over-guyanas-town-neighbourhood-councils\/","url_meta":{"origin":5219,"position":1},"title":"Anti-corruption oversight needed over Guyana\u2019s town, neighbourhood councils","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"November 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Guyana As Guyanese prepare to vote in Local Government Elections (LGE) early next year, there are calls for greater oversight of the town and neighbourhood councils to cut out graft and other forms of corruption. In Quito, the capital of the sister South American nation of of Ecuador, there is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/lady-justice-Jessica45-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/lady-justice-Jessica45-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/lady-justice-Jessica45-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/lady-justice-Jessica45-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28062,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/siparia-corporation-ceo-under-fire\/","url_meta":{"origin":5219,"position":2},"title":"Siparia Corporation CEO under fire","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"May 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago More than a year after she took office, Chief Executive Officer of the Siparia Regional Corporation Ann Hosein has came under fire from PNM and UNC councillors who have accused her of \u201chiding pertinent information, failing to fill technical vacancies, taking too long to award contracts and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Corruption-money-fraudMarco-Verch-Professional-Photographer-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Corruption-money-fraudMarco-Verch-Professional-Photographer-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Corruption-money-fraudMarco-Verch-Professional-Photographer-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Corruption-money-fraudMarco-Verch-Professional-Photographer-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31231,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/mcc-awaits-legal-advice-to-resolve-garbage-compactor-procurement-issue\/","url_meta":{"origin":5219,"position":3},"title":"M&#038;CC awaits legal advice to resolve garbage compactor procurement issue","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"November 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Guyana The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is currently awaiting legal advice to decide its next course of action concerning the two garbage compactors that were procured by F&H Computer Supplies and Merchandisers since May, but did not meet the council\u2019s specifications. Originally, the M&CC had sought to recoup\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Garbage-bins-waste-management-pexels-vlad-vasnetsov-2682683.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Garbage-bins-waste-management-pexels-vlad-vasnetsov-2682683.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Garbage-bins-waste-management-pexels-vlad-vasnetsov-2682683.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Garbage-bins-waste-management-pexels-vlad-vasnetsov-2682683.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33965,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/transparent-process-in-contracts-awarded-by-municipalities-creary\/","url_meta":{"origin":5219,"position":4},"title":"Transparent&#8217; process in contracts awarded by municipalities &#8211; Creary","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"May 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Jamaica member of the debate team that represented the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Richard Creary, has asserted that there is a \"clear\" and \"transparent\" process in awarding contracts at all municipal corporations locally. Creary was responding to a question from social media at Thursday night's local government debates on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pexels-walls-io-440716388-15543047-scaled-e1714693983937.jpg?fit=1024%2C735&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pexels-walls-io-440716388-15543047-scaled-e1714693983937.jpg?fit=1024%2C735&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pexels-walls-io-440716388-15543047-scaled-e1714693983937.jpg?fit=1024%2C735&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pexels-walls-io-440716388-15543047-scaled-e1714693983937.jpg?fit=1024%2C735&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10639,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/contracts-awarded-for-715m-in-road-works-in-regions-4-6-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":5219,"position":5},"title":"Contracts awarded for $715M in road works in regions 4, 6, 10","author":"Michele Marius","date":"October 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The caretaker APNU+AFC administration on Friday released to the media a list of approved road contracts worth $714.51m for regions 4, 6 and 10. Since it has effectively been a caretaker government \u00a0from December 21 last year the contracts approved by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and noted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News\/Developments&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/roadway-punttim-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/roadway-punttim-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/roadway-punttim-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/roadway-punttim-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5219"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5229,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219\/revisions\/5229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}