Dear Editor,
For the benefit of members of the public, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would like to respond to a letter titled “No tendering and no transparency in these purchases” (08.04.10).
This is the second such misconception on this particular matter which was stated by an opposition talk show host.
NDIA is unaware of any drainage pump valued at US$400,000 ever being supplied by an ex-engineer. What we are aware of and what has been adequately publicized is the purchase and installation of two hydraulically driven drainage pumps at a cost of $86.6M. This sum covers the supply and installation of the two pumping units, inclusive of the power skids, hydraulic pump ends, discharge pipe works, protective enclosure for the pump units, associated civil works and one spare pump end – the submersible component of the pump.
If this is the ordinary drainage pump that is alluded to by the writer, then he is misinformed as these 36-inch hydraulically driven drainage pumps have the capacity of discharging 560 gallons of water per second and can be easily deployed as is necessary. He is again misinformed as to the supplier of these pumps. They were not supplied by an ex-engineer of NDIA, but by a highly reputable international company (MWI Corporation, USA) which won the contract through a process of public advertisement and tender procurement procedures in accordance with the Procurement Act 2003.
The writer also made mention of “expensive pumps being purchased for the D&I projects on the Essequibo Coast with no tendering”. Again, let me inform the writer that these pumps were procured in accordance with the Procurement Act 2003.
They were financed under the European Union Rice Competitiveness Project and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and have been installed at Dawa, Anna Regina and Cozier.
Instead of gathering information from mischievous elements I would urge the writer to ascertain facts from the relevant sources before publication.
I am also saddened that the Stabroek News would allow such falsehoods in its column although clarification was previously provided.
Yours faithfully,
Tiana Deokaran
Corporate Secretary
National Drainage and Irrigation
Authority
