International index shows decline of future productivity

Dear Editor,

The development of our education sector is critical for the increased productivity and wellbeing of our future generation. According to the 2018 Human Capital Index report, an international assessment of our future level of productivity, based on our existing health and education system, Guyana, when compared to 2015, deteriorated by 6% to 47%. Essentially, what this means is that, a child born today in Guyana will function at 47% of his/her maximum potential, 18 years from now in the labour force, given the existing risk of poor health and poor education. Hence, this is a critical piece of objective assessment confirming the performance of two of our major sectors, health and education. The fact that future productivity level is likely to decrease given our existing healthcare and education sector, is worrisome.

Of equal importance, based on the 2016 Global Competitive Report, Guyana was ranked 119 out of 140 countries for irregular payments and bribes, a position that has deteriorated by 10 when compared to 2012. Similarly, in 2016, with respect to wastefulness of government spending, the country slipped 2 positions globally. Again, these are all objective assessments confirming the presence of damning evidence of corruption and malpractices.

In tandem with the above, the 2017 auditor general’s report outlined the various discrepancies and corrupt practices committed by the government during the fiscal year 2017. In the education sector, as it relates to the supply of dietary items under the Kato Breakfast School Feeding Programme, Region 8, prices paid were significantly higher when compared to prices of similar items previously purchased by the Region. In total, $33.6 million was expended on items whose prices were grossly inflated. Similarly under the $2.1 billion school feeding programme, eleven schools in Regions 7 and 9, couldn’t account for $52.1 million, a repeated misdemeanour that was highlighted in the preceding auditor general’s report.

Hence, at the Ministry of Education Tender Board level, procurement irregularities continued uninterrupted. It was revealed that forty contracts totalling $15.9 million were awarded without the requisite tender board approval, of which thirty-five were awarded to one contractor at a total value of $12.8 million.

Moreover, numerous instances of overpayments were recorded. For example, two contractors, with respect to the installation of a water distribution line and system, and night-lighting system at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility, received $4.114M and $4.767M respectively in overpayments. In another instance, the contract for the construction of a chain link fence at the One Mile Primary School, Wismar, which was awarded by the Regional Tender Board for the sum of $12.583M, received an overpayment of $727,000.

Finally, under the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, six vehicles not registered as property of the Ministry were used to uplift 4,351 litres of diesel valued $788,773 from Guyoil’s Regent Street location. The fuel was uplifted on thirteen instances. According to the report, on average, in excess of one ‘45 gallons’ drum was uplifted on each occasion. Moreover, checks by the auditor couldn’t confirm the basis on which the quantities of fuel were uplifted.

• Under the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs three vehicles were sold. The first, a Toyota pickup, was sold for $50,000. The vehicle was never advertised; hence no bids were received. The second, a Nissan Frontier Pickup, again, was sold for $50,000, notwithstanding the highest bid for the vehicle came in at $500,000. The buyer, however, didn’t participate in the bidding process. The third, a Toyota Coaster bus, valued at $950,000 was sold for $301,000, to the third highest bidder of seven. Interestingly, the highest bid came in at $1.1M.

• Similarly, under the aforementioned Ministry, $201 million couldn’t be accounted for due to missing payment vouchers. Of the total, $38.2 million was under the sub-category of National and Other Events, Dietary and Refreshment and Meals. Yours faithfully, Irfaan Ali PPP/C MP