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See the full statement issued below: 

The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has noted the article titled “GDF $2.1b Wharf Contract Improperly awarded to Kares” dated June 23^rd, 2024 in the Stabroek News and wishes to highlight the following:

The Guyana Defence Force advertised for the construction of a Coast Guard reinforced concrete wharf at Ruimveldt and bids were received via public tendering in November 2023. Subsequently bids were evaluated by an independent evaluation committee. The evaluators recommended the lowest responsive bidder and an award was made in December 2023. The contract award for the aforementioned project was published in January 2024 and the Government of Guyana entered into a contract in February 2024, with the bidder who submitted the lowest evaluated bid, which is also the lowest overall bid.

In March 2024, Correia & Correia Ltd. Submitted a request for review citing “Any bidder whose bid is less than 80 percent of the engineers estimate will be non-responsive”. It must be noted that this Engineers Estimate was never published or given to the bidders prior to the opening of bids.

It must be noted that the criteria cited was discontinued years ago and is not included in the numbered criteria in the approved Standard Bidding Document. Further, any modifications to the criteria in the Standard Bidding Document require prior approval from NPTAB in accordance with Section 23 (3) of the Procurement Act 2003. Additionally, please be advised that the complaint does not align with Section 52 of the Procurement Act 2003.

The NPTAB reaffirms its commitment to transparency, fairness and accountability. Maintaining public trust and upholding procurement integrity are of utmost importance and NPTAB remains dedicated to fulfillment of these responsibilities.

See below the full statement issued by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh:

It would be recalled that, immediately following the actions taken on June 11 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the United States Department of the Treasury to sanction certain Guyanese individuals and entities, the Government of Guyana wrote the US authorities requesting relevant information to be shared with us to facilitate our own investigation of the matters concerned.

Those requests for information were sent by myself to the US Department of the Treasury, and by the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority under the ambit of the Tax Information Exchange Agreement between Guyana and the US, and we have remained in close contact with the US authorities since.

Earlier today, we were updated by our US partners that a request should now be sent from the office of the Attorney General to the US Department of Justice, who will then work with OFAC to gather source documentation on the matter. We were further advised that, while this could be a long process, it should be aided by the fact that both Guyana and the US are signatories to the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance. Additional information was also shared with us on the mutual legal assistance process.

Our Government will now submit the request following the process advised.

We will also continue to pursue, through the appropriate channel, the obtention of relevant information covered by the Tax Information Exchange Agreement. This Agreement provides for the exchange of information to administer and enforce laws concerning the taxes specified therein, to assure the accurate assessment and collection of taxes to prevent fiscal fraud and evasion, and to develop improved information sources for tax matters.

In addition to the mutual legal assistance process, we expect that the arrangements in place for exchange of tax information and cooperation between tax authorities will provide a means through which relevant information can be shared on matters of this nature in a timely and effective manner.

We will continue to work closely with all our US counterparts in order to advance this matter in the most thorough and expeditious manner possible.

This update is being provided in keeping with our commitment to ensure that this matter is managed with the highest level of transparency.

By Brad DeSouza

Tassarene, derived from the Akawaio word “Te-da-leng”, meaning “High Science,” is a community of approximately 450 residents. It’s situated in the middle Mazaruni district, Region 7, about 123 miles from Bartica.

Tassarene is accessible by both land and river. The local economy thrives on farming, fishing, and mining, with football being the favoured sport.

The village’s new toshao, or leader, aims to transform the community through progressive leadership and dynamic development initiatives.

Ridley Joseph’s own journey to leadership began in Kangaruma, many miles away from Tasareene. His early experiences in the underdeveloped community fueled his resolve to advocate for substantial change.

At 37, Toshao Joseph embodies youthful vigor and a determined spirit. His leadership agenda is comprehensive, encompassing infrastructure enhancement, housing improvements, regulation of mining activities, and the promotion of agricultural, educational, and cultural projects. These initiatives reflect his commitment to catalyzing growth and fostering sustainable development in Tassarene.

A pivotal aspect of Joseph’s vision is the preservation and revitalization of the Akawaio culture and language. He highlighted the adverse impact of external influences on native language retention, particularly the exclusion of indigenous languages in schools. Addressing this cultural erosion, Joseph emphasises the importance of integrating cultural education within the community.

Upon assuming office, Toshao Joseph restructured the council, expanding it from six to ten members. He believes that a larger, more collaborative council can better address the community’s needs and prevent neglect.

“This is not just about myself as the Toshao; the council also plays a crucial role. Together, we will ensure that we do what is right and necessary,” he asserted.

His commitment to his people and unwavering dedication to progress signal a promising future for the community.