The telltale signs that people should ponder before making a choice

Dear Editor,

For a second time in the Coalition reign, controversy in the procurement of books by the Ministry of Education (MOE) is brought to the attention of the public, and justifiably so. A KN article, “No work for local printers – GNPL again goes to Trinidad for books”, on November 22, clearly states that, “Under the laws, GNPL and other state entities and ministries have to advertise for goods and services.”

The article clearly gives the reason for the law, “This is to ensure that the contracts that are awarded are done in a transparent manner in accordance with proper procurement procedures and in order to ensure the people of Guyana receive value for their tax dollars.”

The contract for the printing of books is not in the vicinity of a medical emergency, that the MOE should sole source same to GNPL. When there is a shortage of books, parents purchase books for their children. The fact that the MOE had done this twice, rather than advertise the contract for public tendering is indicative of the MOE’s disdain for the state’s orthodox or lawful procurement procedure.

The local printers, having found out that the cost for printing the books by the Trinidadian company was much higher than they could have done the job for, had sought clarity from Office of the President (OP) when it had happened last year.

I do not recall hearing any explanation on the matter from OP. A second occurrence essentially places OP as a colluder with MOE, in depriving the people of Guyana from receiving “value for their tax dollars.”

The contract having been handed on a platter (sole sourced) to GNPL and because of GNPL’s inability to deliver, it would have been a show of goodwill or a patriotic gesture for GNPL to seek to subcontract the job on home soil – amongst the local printers.

Are there any patriots left in high places? The fact that GNPL did not attempt to subcontract the job on home soil, but went directly to “John Dickinson and Co (West Indies) Limited,” in Trinidad, makes the entire issue now look like a three-pronged conspiracy.

There is an old adage,” We should learn from our mistake”. To have MOE, GNPL and silence from OP, involved in the repeated sourcing of the printing of books at a higher price, from a foreign company, while it could have been done cheaper locally, reeks of lawlessness and lack of patriotism towards country.

With general elections set for March 2, these are the telltale signs that the people should ponder on before deciding on their choice of Government. The people must at all times be mindful of the wastage of their tax dollars. It is the ultimate source for corruption.

Rudolph Singh