Questions have been raised about how evaluators recommended Alternative Contracting Enterprise for a $42.2 million contract to build the base for the proposed Palmyra, Berbice Indian Arrival Monument, which recently collapsed.
The Ministry of Education, which was the procuring entity for the contract, has remained silent.
The structure, which was supposed to be the base for a US$150,000 bronze sculpture, gifted by the Government of India and which commemorates Indian Immigration here, suddenly collapsed in the last week in April during construction. It was supposed to have been completed in time for last Friday’s Indian Arrival Day celebrations. This newspaper understands that the base was “more that 85% completed” at the time of collapse.
In March, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, together with the Indian High Commissioner Venkatachalam Mahalingam, had unveiled a signboard depicting the monument at the site.
Nagamootoo, during that unveiling ceremony, had disclosed that $97 million had been allocated for building of the structure upon which the monument would be placed. The project was divided into three phases and the contracts were awarded between September and November of last year.
Documents obtained from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board shows that Phase 1, which dealt with preparatory and access works at the site, was awarded to Eron Lall Engineering Civil Engineering Works on September 12, 2016. It followed bids from 13 companies for that aspect of the project.
Phase 2, which entailed the construction of the base, saw again 13 bidders and Alternative Contracting Enterprise was awarded the $42.2 million contract.
Alternative Contracting Enterprise is registered as a business at the Deeds Registry and names Derek Wilson, of Greenheart Street, Mackenzie, Linden, as its owner. The business had been in existence since 2008 but last updated its status on July 21, 2015.
The last phase would deal with the landscaping and finishing works at the site. It saw bids received from 11 companies and an $8.2 million contract for the works was awarded to BK International.
Below are the names of the companies and their bids for each respective phase of the project.
Phase 1. Preparatory and Access works at Palmyra East Coast Berbice, Region 6
Phase 2. Construction of Monument Base and Ancillary Works
Phase 3. Landscaping and Finishing works
Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine had promised to give an update on the matter by last Wednesday but efforts to contact him have been futile since calls to both his office and mobile phones were not answered.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Public Infrastructure Public Relations Officer Desilon Daniels told this newspaper that assessments were done by ministry engineers and the report was still being prepared. It is expected to be completed soon and would be handed to the Minister of Education.
Stabroek News checked the site last Thursday and workmen were on the ground during heavy rains although it was unclear what they were doing.
A person, who has identified himself to Stabroek News first as the contractor then subsequently a supervisor, and gave his name Marlon Cumberbatch, is no longer available for comment. Calls to his mobile number continue to go to voicemail.
The collapse raises embarrassing questions for the government as poor contracting work had been one of its frequent targets while in opposition. The collapse would call into question how the contract selection was made, the abilities of the contractor, the type of material used, whether an adequate design had been drawn up and if the construction was being monitored.
This newspaper has been trying since the collapse to ascertain who was responsible for the contract award. Last Tuesday, recently appointed Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Marcia Tucker said the contract was awarded under her predecessor, Delma Nedd, and she did not have the details. Since she was not privy to the contract details, Tucker pointed this newspaper to the ministry’s Procurement Department Head Quincy Hinds. Hinds’ deputy asked that Stabroek News return the next day to see the contract because he was rushing to the NPTAB. However, on Wednesday, when the reporter returned, he said that he could not make privy the document unless direct orders came from Hinds and not the Permanent Secretary.
But an officer, who asked not to be named, said that the contract was evaluated by the NPTAB and it was “their recommendation that the ministry was working on” and that was how the contract was awarded.
NPTAB’s head Berkley Wickham was not available for comment and his deputy L Lawrence informed that she did not have information on the contract and would need to check on it before speaking.
The NPTAB is responsible for the appointing of evaluators for specific contracts.
With the 2015 Auditor General’s report pointing out that due diligence needed to be exercised in the selection of evaluators, Wickham is on record as saying that the NPTAB was upgrading its selection process as well as increasing the pool of evaluators from which it chooses.
Due to numerous government projects being highlighted for poor construction, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran and other members of the public have called for the private sector to evaluate contracts for capital projects.
