Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo meeting with residents at one of his several meetings in Region 6 on Tuesday
Some 475 contracts for rehabilitative works to be done on road works in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been awarded to small contractors in the region.
This is in keeping with the Government’s policy of ensuring small contractors are included in the massive infrastructure development taking place.
Signing of contracts in this regard was done at the offices of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in New Amsterdam, Berbice on Tuesday.
The contractors were also engaged by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was accompanied by Public Works Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar.
Meeting with small contractors at the RDC Office in New Amsterdam, Region Six, on Tuesday
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has said its insistence on small contractors getting contracts within their regions serves multiple purposes, including empowering these small contractors and ensuring infrastructure is maintained countrywide. Since the PPP/C’s return to office, as many as 2000 new small contractors have been registered and become involved in the procurement system as part of a new eco-system of contractors that continues to grow.
In a press conference, Jagdeo detailed the steps the Government has taken to encourage this growth in the contractors’ pool. Among those steps are removal of the two per cent bid bond requirement, thereby allowing contractors working on projects below $15 million more opportunities to bid.
A section of the farmers at the meeting in Skeldon
“When the PPP got into office, the biggest problem to small contractors entering the system was the two per cent bid bond. They had to go to the bank, if they won a contract, and put up a bid bond. Now, many small contractors don’t have the capability to do that, (so) we removed the bid bond for contractors below $15 million,” he said.
Small contracts falling below the $15 million margin range from those engaged in weeding and cleaning to those engaged in civil works and even the construction of roads. Among the criteria the PPP Government has changed to grant more opportunities to small contractors is the experience requirement, which ranges from three to five years. This has also led to more diversity in the pool of contractors.
“What did we do to ensure that more people now are part of the procurement system? So, you have about 2000 new small contractors since we took office. We have more Afro-Guyanese companies now than ever before, including under five years under APNU. And that is a fact, and we can list the companies. So, contrary to what they say…,” the Vice President had further explained.
Meetings
The Vice President held a number of other meetings with stakeholders during his visit to Region Six. He met with residents of Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna and Yakusari in Black Bush Polder, and he met as scheduled with Skeldon farmers.
“Throughout the visit, the Vice President listened to various concerns and suggestions from the residents. He assured them that their issues would be addressed and their recommendations would be carefully considered,” the Region 6 RDC has said.
Accompanying him were Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh; Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, and several other senior Government officials.
Jagdeo met with farmers from across Region Six at the Classic Hotel in Skeldon. There he outlined Government’s plans for significant investments in the agriculture sector, and explained how farmers could benefit from those initiatives. The Vice President also took time to listen to the concerns and recommendations put forward by the farmers. (G3)
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