Readers Response

Dear Editor:
I have been involved with tendering for security contracts for over 38 years and have seen a lot of ugliness in this process. However, I wish to state that in recent years things seem to have taken a dip for the worse which gives a negative image to the government of the day. In fairness, I do not believe that the government encourages corruption or is involved in the deceit that preponderates in the system of tender awards. At the same time, anyone can see that the award of tenders usually involves favouritism, nepotism and even corruption. Of course, I also observed this practice during the term of the previous government as well.
As a businessman involved in the security industry, I can comment on the hardships faced when tendering for security contracts. However, I believe this is a common phenomenon in other industries as well. Sadly, it does not only happen with ministerial tenders, but also with those involving the regions, institutions, corporations, government agencies and government commissions. I have no political axe to grind. As a patriot, all I desire is good governance from whoever is elected.
At least 99% of all tenders for security are known for their illogicality. Whether the document is not explicit enough in its criteria, or the calculations do not add up, there is always some drama and confusion. Further, many times our company must call to advise them on our observations, which sometimes leads to expressions of appreciation, but at other times annoyance and a ‘don’t care’ attitude.
It would appear that once a particular company offers a rate to make it competitive, for no justifiable reason whatsoever the tenders are cancelled and are retendered. It seems as though the persons in these governmental institutions believe tenders are a joke and something to use for personal benefit. Meanwhile, some other prejudices may be involved: political, racial, or just a dislike of a personality. Retenders are costly and it would appear that certain administrators in ministries and commissions don’t seem to realize this. It takes many costly hours and a lot of mental energy to fulfil all the criteria. In many cases, a tenderer must repurchase the tender documents. Added to that, there is a cost for accountants to procure financial compliance. Finally, in all tenders, a company must find tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars for bid security. One commission has retendered thrice over the past few months unjustifiably. It should be noted, that this particular commission has already had fingers pointed at it for acts of alleged corruption.
It is my opinion that whenever a retender is advertised, government ministries, commissions and institutions should provide the new tender documents free of charge to those who previously tendered, and compensate for the 2% bid security. It has been observed that one particular company, which is usually the highest bidder, frequently receives the award. My company, RK’s Guyana Security Services will never tender below cost, so we do not believe in the lowest tender since in order to do this, Value Added Tax will be stolen, NIS contributions will be stolen (again) and even bankruptcy will be declared to hoodwink the NIS, GRA and the entire government structure. This particular company in 2015 was awarded a contract for a certain ministry even though its bid was $30 million above our tender. Also, RK’s had served this ministry for over two years without complaint, without a loss and with an extremely high calibre of service. That same company then took over a contract from us at another ministry even though their tender was $10 million above ours.
In the former and current administrations, there are persons who are self-seekers, while there are others who hate and dislike. There appears to be a group of people of power operating like a shadow cabinet, which overrides the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, the Public Procurement Commission and the official Cabinet; awards are being given and taken away at its whim and fancy. I have written to the highest authorities, met with several personalities and professionals in the government, all of whom were shocked by the scenario.
This government to distance itself from the few recalcitrant persons functioning as a shadow cabinet as they do not have Guyana at heart. Our nation has come a long way from independence to ensure accountability, transparency and fairness in tendering; let us build on these strides.
Roshan Khan Sr. CEO/Chairman
RK’s Guyana Security Services

August 2, 2017 issue
Readers' Response
Health care in Guyana is dispensed inequitably
Dear Editor: Data from the CIA World Fact Book for 2017 revealed that life expectancy at birth for Guyanese stands at 68.4 years, which is low compared to the WHO 2015 global average of 71.4 years. Such statistics indicate that there is a health care problem in Guyana. Health care is a fundamental right of every citizen, and Guyana has both government-run hospitals as well private ones, but they provide inadequate medical care. Government desperately needs to bring the health care situation under control. And as such, the factors driving it need to be identified and eliminated so as to raise Guyana’s health care standard to match that of Western countries. It is no secret that our health care suffers from lack of funds, lack of skills, lack of medical facilities, unmotivated health care workers, corruption, and politics, among a slew of others. Make no mistake, the APNU+AFC government knows what needs to be done to bring this crisis under control, but it turns a blind eye and focuses on the health care needs of its ministers. Government travels abroad for quality medical care while its people have no choice but to use the deficient health care this country provides. Moreover, government even pursues foreign medical insurance. Editor, how can this not be inequality? How can this not be inhumane? And how can this not be morally wrong? Mr Joseph Harmon, the Minister of State attempted to defend government’s position by contending that ministers needed quality medical care. Such a posture invites the obvious question: aren’t all Guyanese deserving of quality medical care? Absolutely! Mr Harmon clearly treats Guyanese as if they are undeserving. Government has a notorious track record in this regard. For instance, it allowed the working poor a wage increase of only 5%, but awarded a whopping 50% increase for itself. Government also fuels this crisis through political patronage. Further, government fuels this crisis by fast-tracking millions of dollars in drug purchases without tender, and by storing our drug supplies in a building it rented from an alleged political associate. Additionally, government squanders scarce dollars in spite of the fact that a lack of funds is a potent factor fuelling the health care crisis. Editor, government rents a sprawling mansion to the tune of half a million dollars per month. It even poured millions of dollars into a green fence at the Ministry of the Presidency. It also granted millions of scarce dollars to fund scholarships for serving ministers, and wastes exorbitant sums on frequent foreign travel. Sadly, corruption is a hallmark of this society, and it also drives this crisis. All in all, government and its people have lost faith in Guyana’s health care system. Government needs to be reminded that the economic progress which is desperately needed to lift Guyanese out of abject poverty is directly dependent on the health of its people. Government needs to do the right thing. Last but not least, government needs to know that Guyanese deserve the same quality health care as the one its members can enjoy from Ireland. After all, we are all human beings. Annie Baliram via email

Tender awards dogged by corruption, favouritism
Dear Editor: I have been involved with tendering for security contracts for over 38 years and have seen a lot of ugliness in this process. However, I wish to state that in recent years things seem to have taken a dip for the worse which gives a negative image to the government of the day. In fairness, I do not believe that the government encourages corruption or is involved in the deceit that preponderates in the system of tender awards. At the same time, anyone can see that the award of tenders usually involves favouritism, nepotism and even corruption. Of course, I also observed this practice during the term of the previous government as well. As a businessman involved in the security industry, I can comment on the hardships faced when tendering for security contracts. However, I believe this is a common phenomenon in other industries as well. Sadly, it does not only happen with ministerial tenders, but also with those involving the regions, institutions, corporations, government agencies and government commissions. I have no political axe to grind. As a patriot, all I desire is good governance from whoever is elected. At least 99% of all tenders for security are known for their illogicality. Whether the document is not explicit enough in its criteria, or the calculations do not add up, there is always some drama and confusion. Further, many times our company must call to advise them on our observations, which sometimes leads to expressions of appreciation, but at other times annoyance and a ‘don’t care’ attitude. It would appear that once a particular company offers a rate to make it competitive, for no justifiable reason whatsoever the tenders are cancelled and are retendered. It seems as though the persons in these governmental institutions believe tenders are a joke and something to use for personal benefit. Meanwhile, some other prejudices may be involved: political, racial, or just a dislike of a personality. Retenders are costly and it would appear that certain administrators in ministries and commissions don’t seem to realize this. It takes many costly hours and a lot of mental energy to fulfil all the criteria. In many cases, a tenderer must repurchase the tender documents. Added to that, there is a cost for accountants to procure financial compliance. Finally, in all tenders, a company must find tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars for bid security. One commission has retendered thrice over the past few months unjustifiably. It should be noted, that this particular commission has already had fingers pointed at it for acts of alleged corruption. It is my opinion that whenever a retender is advertised, government ministries, commissions and institutions should provide the new tender documents free of charge to those who previously tendered, and compensate for the 2% bid security. It has been observed that one particular company, which is usually the highest bidder, frequently receives the award. My company, RK’s Guyana Security Services will never tender below cost, so we do not believe in the lowest tender since in order to do this, Value Added Tax will be stolen, NIS contributions will be stolen (again) and even bankruptcy will be declared to hoodwink the NIS, GRA and the entire government structure. This particular company in 2015 was awarded a contract for a certain ministry even though its bid was $30 million above our tender. Also, RK’s had served this ministry for over two years without complaint, without a loss and with an extremely high calibre of service. That same company then took over a contract from us at another ministry even though their tender was $10 million above ours. In the former and current administrations, there are persons who are self-seekers, while there are others who hate and dislike. There appears to be a group of people of power operating like a shadow cabinet, which overrides the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, the Public Procurement Commission and the official Cabinet; awards are being given and taken away at its whim and fancy. I have written to the highest authorities, met with several personalities and professionals in the government, all of whom were shocked by the scenario. This government to distance itself from the few recalcitrant persons functioning as a shadow cabinet as they do not have Guyana at heart. Our nation has come a long way from independence to ensure accountability, transparency and fairness in tendering; let us build on these strides. Roshan Khan Sr. CEO/Chairman RK’s Guyana Security Services

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