Latest update April 26th, 2024 12:05 AM
Jun 26, 2021 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
The end of May 2021 will forever be etched in the minds of all Guyanese. It was so shocking to look repeatedly at the footage of President Irfaan Ali, who was shell-shocked at the insensitive, lackadaisical and even undermining attitude of some pump attendants, when he visited several drainage pumps in and outside of Georgetown on Sunday night, May 30. During that tour, the Head of State discovered firsthand that “… the pumps at Riverview were off, the koker doors were closed and the worker was asleep…” and quite soundly too, as he had to be roused by repeated shouting.
His response confirmed his intuition as he detailed that “This is what we are talking about, I came out here myself to verify tonight. The main pump to drain the city is turned off. Up to today, we said that the pumps need to be on 24 hours…While we have to deal with the heavy rainfall, we have to deal decisively with irresponsibility and negligence.” And true to his word, corresponding action is setting off. I add that the scenario was the same at Lombard Street and Kitty, where some of the city’s most important pumps were not working, leading the President to question why the pumps were not on.
In the end, and in good governance, the President “…instructed the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC MP, to immediately review all service and maintenance contracts within the sphere of the Government of Guyana and the entire State structure, in relation to drainage pumps, sluices, kokers and drainage and irrigation, generally, and to enforce any penalty clause against contractors who are in breach of their obligations under these contracts.”
In compliance, the word is that Attorney General “…is drafting a new model contract, which will set out specific terms and conditions to address contractors, who fail to fulfill their obligations, in relation to the maintenance and upkeep of drainage pumps in the country.”I add here that all over the world, contracts are never ever treated lightly. In fact, any “breach” of contract is punishable by Law, as it is a serious offence with corresponding penalties. So, after what took place here in Guyana, in the area of ‘maintenance and upkeep of drainage pumps,’ the course of action now unfolding is quite legal and very necessary.
I love that the AG is mandating that “The contracts will also include a liquidated damages provision, which allows for the payment of a pre-determined sum, agreed to by the parties at the time that the contract is entered into, should one of the parties be found in breach of the contract.” This issue of ‘holding’ employees and bodies to accountability is quite necessary. President Irfaan Ali is a first-hand witness to what happens when there is gross incompetence and negligence. He actually had to question ‘one sleeper’ employed by the Mayor and City Council. It is worthy to note that the Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Ministers Nigel Dharamlall, Anand Persaud and Deodat Indar, called a meeting with Mayor Ubraj Narine, his deputy Alfred Mentore and other city officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and it was very evident that, “They are not supervising these people (pump attendants, etc.) and it seems like these equipment are being left to the operators…whenever they want to work, they work it.”
That is why, according to the AG, “As part of the new terms to be crafted, contractors who enter into agreements and are found to be in breach of their duties or are negligent in the performance of same, which is found to contribute to flooding, will have to pay compensation.” I add my piece here; the fines must be heavy and must be imposed even in the case of firing those in dereliction.
Yours truly,
Matthew Hendrix
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