Ministry of Finance, Public Works teams to visit Bartica
- Allegations of irregular tender practices surfaces - April 15, 2004

President Bharrat Jagdeo has promised to send Government Officials to look into the operations of the tendering process in Bartica, Region Seven. This is consequent to a meeting he hosted Wednesday last with the business community at the Costillo Hotel, when businesspeople raised concerns about the standard of work delivered by various contractors as well as discrimination in the tendering process for Regional contracts.
The President noted that this should be a public process and contracts are awarded on the basis of the lowest bid with the technical capabilities for the project.
President Jagdeo said that Government will not tolerate any practice that is not transparent, as it has gone to great lengths at National and Regional levels to make the tendering process free of corruption.
He also told the residents that he will send in a team from the Ministry of Finance to meet contractors working within the Region and the Regional Officials to ensure the process is done correctly.
Commenting on the standard of works delivered by the contractors, the residents voiced concerns and President Jagdeo said a team from the Ministry of Public Works will be there soon to address their problems.
The President also urged the community to form groups and solicit specification for the projects from the Region and ensure that the contractor complies. He noted that which Government funding these projects, the community can help monitor them.
The more than two-hour community meeting saw discussions on several other issues including transportation, provision of key Government services and development in Bartica.
Following the meeting, the Head of State met a group of New York based Barticians who were home for the recently held Bartica Regatta 2004.
The parties discussed ways of making Bartica better, especially in terms of attracting more tourists.
Also present at the meeting were Ministers Jennifer Westford and Shaik Baksh and the Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford.