Former Minister of Infrastructure David Patterson and former General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation Rawlston Adams were this morning slapped with charges of conspiracy to defraud the nation.
This is in relation to the ongoing probe by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) over his role in sole-sourcing a company to design a new Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Patterson and Adams made their appearance before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charges against the duo detailed that they conspired with each other and persons unknown to defraud the State of over $163 million in relation to the feasibility study for the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
They were released on $200k bail each, and the matter was adjourned to Feb 15, 2021, for trial.
The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had completed an investigation into the matter where it was noted that several companies had bid to do the feasibility to study and design the new Demerara River bridge. Twelve companies were shortlisted.
The investigation revealed that only two of the 12 companies had made proposals. As such, the bidding process was voided.
On November 12, 2016, the Tender Administration Board approved the project’s move to be re-tendered. But the project was not re-tendered, but LievenseCSO was engaged by the Public Infrastructure Ministry to do the work.
The bid from LievenseCSO was allegedly unsolicited, but Patterson took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval, and approval was given.
It was also noted that monies to be spent on the project were taken from the asphalt plant accounts.
Reports indicate that in 2017, $215.3 million was used from the fund, while in 2018, a further $74 million was withdrawn.
The original sum approved by Cabinet for the contract was $161.5 million, but it was alleged that the contract price for the handpicked LievenseCSO was actually $148 million.
Meanwhile, members of the opposition staged a protest in front of the court calling the charges “political in nature.”