An interview with the Minister of Public Infrastructure
At a recent function to rename the Centre of Caribbean Studies at the University of Warwick in honour of our renowned business icon Yesu Persaud, I met Mr. David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure. He agreed to an interview with me to discuss a number issues, most importantly being the proposed new Demerara Harbour Bridge between Versailles and Houston. The meeting was scheduled for 10.00 a.m. last Friday. By the time I arrived, the Minister had already alerted his Secretary and had arranged for a technical officer to be present. The Secretary ushered me into the Minister’s boardroom and within one minute the interview commenced. It lasted for exactly one hour since the Minister had another engagement at 11.00 a.m.
Re: Previous article on the proposed new Demerara Harbour Bridge
On 2 October 2017, we had carried an article entitled “Procurement of consulting services and prequalification procedures” in which we discussed the Ministry’s decision to engage in sole source procurement for the selection of the consulting firm, LievenseCSO, to conduct the feasibility for the new Bridge. The Ministry had sought to engage in the open tender approach, but the results were unsatisfactory. As a result, it abandoned this approach which would have required re-tendering, and proceeded to select the consultants via the sole source method.
We had examined the facts of the matter, outlined the requirements of the Procurement Act relating to consulting services and concluded that there was no breach of the Act. In accordance with Section 49, a procuring entity may engage in single source procurement where the services to be procured require that a particular consultant be selected due to its unique qualifications or where it is necessary to continue a project with the same consultant. However, the contract is awarded only if the selected consultant agrees to be subjected to cost verification during the performance of the services. The contract shall indicate the accounting obligations of the consultant, including the obligation to present appropriate accounts or documents allowing the determination of the cost of the services. The procuring entity may also negotiate the terms of the contract with the selected consultant but under no circumstances may