Strict oversight needed for govt.’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure works – Opposition

The main Parliamentary Opposition is calling for strict financial oversight and adherence to procurement laws as the government gears to execute billions of dollars in infrastructural works this year.

According to the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), the government has allocated G$388B for capital expenditure, with most of the money earmarked for massive infrastructure projects, such as roads and public buildings.

The party noted that almost all of the G$388B will be filtered through the public procurement system – in other words, through contracts to be awarded by government ministries, state agencies, and regional democratic councils.

Against this background, the APNU+AFC noted that there is a need for the government to put in place, measures to minimize corruption and financial mismanagement and to ensure equitable allocation of contracts across groups in society.

At a press conference this morning, the party said that when it was in office between 2015 and 2020, it delivered quality infrastructure at a much lower cost than the present government.

It cited its Member of Parliament, David Patterson, who during his budget presentation, indicated that road contracts are now costing taxpayers $40M per km more than under the Coalition government.

This highlights the crisis of corruption and financial mismanagement in the public procurement system at present, the party said. It did not, however, mention the pandemic-triggered shocks and the effects of the ongoing Ukraine/Russia war on the global supply chain.

The party attributed the increase solely to corruption, noting that if left unchecked, the “crisis” would only worsen.

It also noted that the Public Procurement Commission “must get off its rump and fulfil its mandate”. The Guyana Constitution (Article 212 AA) empowers this Commission to “monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works” and “to investigate cases of irregularity and mismanagement, and propose remedial action.”

“As an independent constitutional body, the Commission must not allow the government to thwart the fulfilment of its responsibility to the people. It must urgently get its act together,” the party stressed.