Law allowing small contractors to get 20% of Govt. contracts to be enforced – Harmon

Jul 29, 2016 News

For years, small contractors have been complaining about not being incorporated into the Public Procurement Process and many have also claimed that they have been unfairly treated.
These contractors are likely to see a change in the process, since the Government will be looking to ensure that 20 percent of all Government contracts be awarded to small contractors yearly, as is stated in the Laws of Guyana.
This was disclosed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his Post-Cabinet Press Briefing last Wednesday. Harmon also added that Government will be looking not only to ensure but also, enforce this law.
The Minister stated that several concerns were raised by small contractors at a seminar that was recently held by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
He continued that the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, had submitted a report to Cabinet which in turn, mandated a committee that will be spearheaded by the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo to examine and focus on ways in which small miners can be incorporated into the public procurement process.
Other Committee Members named include: Minister Patterson; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; and the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.
Minister Harmon assured that every effort will be made to give legitimate support to small contractors and small companies for their involvement in the process, and he added that the Administration does not intentionally omit anyone in the selection of contractors for state projects, as the Procurement Act describes the manner in which contracts are awarded.
He expounded that when a contract comes to Cabinet, it is for Cabinet to say whether it objects or not.
“Cabinet would not exercise that power to say who should get a contract or who should not get. We either say we object or we do not object,” Harmon asserted.