The Government of Guyana remains in discussions with the Indian supplier of the nine non-performing drainage pumps procured under the previous APNU+AFC government, according to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha.
He said that since discussions began, the company had requested some technical information from his ministry which was forwarded to them. He noted that they are now awaiting a response which will influence the decision on the way forward.
“Negotiation remain in progress and we are working to find a solution. What we want is to ensure we have the correct specifications of what is required to do the work,” Mustapha told Stabroek News last week.
Apollo International, the Indian supplier of the pumps, had initially informed the government that they are prepared to send a team of engineers to resolve the matter.
With a number of mechanical issues unearthed during the installation and commissioning of the pumps, NDIA engineers concluded from their independent research that the engines were rated for fire pumps and were undersized. As such, they could not function and be used effectively for the purpose outlined in the specifications.
This situation has raised questions on the type of due diligence done by Guyanese officials in India, and when the pumps arrived here.
In a letter sent to the company by the Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Anil Nandall, and seen by this newspaper, the government asked the company to replace the “fire engines” with the required continuous engine performance.
The company was told that if it failed to meet the government’s demand the “NDIA will purchase and install the engines and deduct the cost for doing same from the balance of the contract price.”
In his presentation on the 2022 budget, Mustapha told the National Assembly that with the help of the Minister of Legal Affairs, they are trying to recoup monies spent for the purchase of the unworkable pumps.
He also noted that under the former Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, 75 per cent of the monies were paid for the procurement of the pumps.
“… When we first took office in 2020, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority was plagued with inoperable pumps and excavators even though our farmers were paying exorbitant rates,” Mustapha said to the House.
The Agriculture Minister explained that during the commissioning of the pumps “all sorts of mechanical issues” were observed from the 30th December 2020, to present. The issues ranged from parts overheating, electrical problems with the control panel, alignment difficulties, leaking gear box, broken drive shafts and engine back pressuring, broken gears and gear box, among others.
“Due to the many problems that were observed during the commissioning stage of the pumps, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority began to request from Apollo International Limited the performance curves, engine specifications and clarification of the performance of the pumps and engines supplied,” but was told to contact the manufacturer, CUMMINS INDIA.
“It is apposite to point out that your company, being the contracted party to design and supply the engines should have been able to provide the engine specifications upon request,” the Attorney General said to the company on its failure to produce the requested information.
Nandlall, in his letter to the company, highlighted that it was made aware of the mechanical issues which he pointed out stemmed from the fact that the engines were not able to perform “as per the specifications required and for the intended application envisaged.”
The mobile and fixed heavy-duty drainage pumps were procured under a Line of Credit of US$4 million from India.
Both Mustapha and Nandlall told this newspaper that prior to leaving government in 2015, then Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth, had advised against the purchase of such pumps after returning from a visit to India.
