Dear Editor,
It seemed wise for me to set aside two drafts of a letter to the editor on the Supenaam (Essequibo) Stelling as the news became available to me. I shall ignore the exchanges as they change subtly and confine myself to what I found striking. First of all the bloggers were most helpful. Some of them with the technical knowledge educated readers – or some of us.
I found interesting that a speaker from the side of the firm stressed that the firm had followed the “original design and specifications. ” I asked in my first draft, if BK carried out the original design and specifications why did it not install the drawbridge(s) on the vessel(s). There is nothing new about such a design. Where Mr Kit Nascimento was quoted, he never spoke of the “original design” but simply of the “design and specifications.”
At first neither the firm nor the Ministry Of Works was outspoken about possible changes to the original design. My first clue came from Mr BrianTiwari when he spoke, or was reported in one section of the press as speaking, of a meeting prior to the handing over. In that report real persons were named. He added that at that meeting Minister Benn “behaved badly”; he also reported that the Minister had said that he had no money to spend on the stelling. Any child would ask “on what now? ”
Mr Tiwari had said that he had since January received a “certificate of completion.” What does “completion” mean now? Is there such a thing in contracting for works as incomplete completion? Just checking!
The certificate of completion would have to come after a thorough inspection of the works as they fulfilled design and specifications. Who inspected? And who signed? Later reports indicated that Minister Benn was not satisfied with the execution of the works. I do not know whether this is the first example of an open disagreement within the present PPP administration over the expenditure of funds.
The recently decorated Champion of the Earth, President Jagdeo, has stepped forward. Before we begin to clap we should try to be aware of the power positions of the two sides. The two ministries one silent and the other not, seeming to be involved are both run by Ministers constitutionally appointed by the President. The procurement administration (Central Tender Board) and the other tender boards are ultimately controlled by a Minister appointed by the President. Who is to order a review? The constitution since 2002 provided for a Procurement Commission, a lame duck in function, that should review the procurement administration but the commission has not yet been appointed.
As other newspapers were reporting the provocative stelling dispute, the Guyana Chronicle was reporting that BK had just received a shipment of 35 pieces of smart equipment. I add, “that it should be fulfilled,” which was spoken by General Secretary Donald Ramotar after Ms McDonald’s report on aspects of race. Mr Ramotar admitted the almost non-existing part (my words) played by African Guyanese contractors in the distribution of work and explained it by their lack of capacity.
The late President Jagan used to quote Gunnar Myrdal endlessly on his theory of “circular causation.” In short, if a cycle of unfairness leading to poverty is not disrupted or broken constructively it will produce or cause more poverty of the same kind. (Economists, please help.)
Most people know that I accept Lenin’s recommendation “Every cook must learn to govern.” Public discussions like this, however mild or strong in sentiment, help cooks, male and female to learn to govern.
Mr Tiwari will not deny that the Supenaam Stelling was the ninety-third contract his firm received from the PPP administration between 1992 and May 2006.
Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana
