Dear Editor,
On his Thursday talk show, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo preached to the nation about the need for fairness and transparency in the awarding of government contracts. He insisted that procurement laws must be followed, lamenting the issue of families with multiple companies monopolizing the system, and delivered a string of well-crafted soundbites to placate an increasingly frustrated citizenry. Yet, just as his words faded, the reality of his actions emerged.
In one stunning revelation, the nation learned that the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had awarded 40 contracts in a single day — all of them to Jagdeo’s close ally, Bobby Ramroop, owner of New GPC Inc. And let’s be clear: it wasn’t 40 out of a larger pool. It was 40 out of 40. Every single pharmaceutical supply contract went to New GPC Inc. And if that weren’t outrageous enough, Ramroop’s company wasn’t even the lowest, most responsive bidder for all of them. The contract, which involves supplying 505 products, has further raised eyebrows as New GPC doesn’t even produce 70% of the items listed.
Of the 10 other bidders, at least six have the necessary storage and capacity to meet the requirements, yet somehow, miraculously, only one company — the one with close ties to Jagdeo — walked away with all the contracts.
Is this not corruption? Is this not hypocrisy of the highest order? While Jagdeo pontificates about transparency, his actions tell a different story — one of cronyism and self-interest at the expense of the nation.
Yours respectfully,
Ganesh Mahipaul