THE EDITOR, Sir:
I REFER to the recent article appearing in The Gleaner giving details of alleged cost overruns on various Operation PRIDE projects and a response by the Minister of Water & Housing, Dr. Karl Blythe, published in the Friday, March 1, edition in which he takes issue with the writer on the way the article was written.
The general public needs to be fully informed on this matter which involves billions of taxpayer dollars and you have dealt with that aspect of the matter in your subsequent editorial.
However, there are other important factors relating to these projects which urgently need to be addressed and explained by the Minister.
For instance, all indications are that these major contracts were not put out for competitive tender. If this is indeed the case, the Minister needs to explain -
a) The method used for negotiating and eventually awarding these contracts;
b) The procedure used for appraising tender prices and ensuring that unit rates and other costs were competitive to those used for similar work in the industry;
c) Whether or not these projects were subject to a Performance Bond, which is the normal procedure on projects of this size.
A satisfactory explanation to the above would put many minds at ease and is of particular interest to individuals who work in the construction industry and who have been struggling to survive through these very difficult times.
The magnitude of the work awarded to the two principal contractors amounting to billions of dollars must have put a severe strain on their resources and so affected their ability to perform efficiently. This opinion is strongly supported by the available information relating to job costs and the unsatisfactory rate of progress achieves.
Needless to say, in implementing important projects such as Operation PRIDE, the Government has an obligation to spend taxpayers' money as judiciously as possible. It should also be morally bound to ensure that such projects are accessible for tender by all qualified companies comprising the construction industry of Jamaica.
Regretfully, from the information available at this time, it would indicate that the Government on this occasion, has been sadly lacking on both accounts.
I am, etc.,
'NEGLECTED CONTRACTOR'
