The People’s Progressive Party today announced full support for the Government’s decision to terminate the contract which Surendra Engineering Company Ltd for the construction of the Speciality Hospital.
In a release, it cited Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon’s statement that Government’s decision was based on the fact that Surendra allegedly submitted a forged bond to cover its exposure on the monies government paid Surendra for works on the project. Surendra has denied this.
“The PPP welcomes this move for a number of reasons, but most particularly because of the strong signal that it sends to contractors and suppliers of goods and services to Government. The PPP and the PPP/C government have said time and time again that we are prepared to make the tough decisions against anyone who is found to be engaged in any illicit or fraudulent engagement at Party or Government levels.
“Where the Surendra’s contract on the Speciality Hospital is concerned, the government had defended the award, because it was done in an open fair and transparent manner, but also was very tolerant with the contractor noting the challenges which the project encountered with the delivery deadlines. However, as the evidence was produced that a prerequisite and necessary element of the contract was compromised the government moved to deal condignly with the contractor thus, demonstrating the mettle of the PPP/C government”, the party said.
It added that the PPP/C Administration has a “proud track record of being fair and transparent while operating a rule based method of procurement”. It referred the passing of legislation like the Procurement Act and the establishing of website dedicated to public procurement. The latter has not functioned the way it is supposed to.
The release added that the PPP Administration has enacted the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act and has reformed and strengthened the Audit Department to have the capacity to be an independent watchdog over the operations of the Government.
It made no mention of the fact that the key Public Procurement Commission is still to be set up.
