Award to small contractors suspended amid complaints – Edghill

See statement below from Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill:

The Government of Guyana, over the last several months, engaged in a public pre-qualification process for small contractors undertaking projects valued at GYD$15 million and under, aimed at enhancing transparency, ensuring fairness and accountability, and promoting widespread participation and involvement in national development opportunities.

This is in keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government’s manifesto promise as a measure of empowering small contractors. This process which was notice to all, and open to all; commenced on March 2, 2026, and concluded on April 6, 2026 (inclusive of a requested and approved extension).  The pre-qualification was published on the recently launched centralized procurement website (eprocure.gov.gy) designed to make all public procurement opportunities easier to access, as well as in the customary daily newspapers.

Subsequently, a team comprising both technical staff and Government Ministers conducted verification exercises on the ground to scrutinize the list for various errors and anomalies including – duplicate submissions and same family/household ownership of businesses/companies etc. with an aim of ensuring no family or individual was benefitting unduly to the detriment of others.

Over the last few days, Phase One of awards/signing of contracts was initiated in a public manner with the utilization of public spaces. This phase involved the award of contracts for projects being executed by the Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development through its Regional offices. During that process in Region 4, several complaints were received, and information reviewed, leading to the decision to suspend the process for further verifications and checks to be conducted.

The Government of Guyana, through its various procuring Agencies and Ministries will continue the engagement as soon as it may be ascertained that all issues raised are satisfactorily addressed.

This massive undertaking with the engagement and evaluation of the more than ten thousand persons who submitted applications utilizing the aforementioned online platform, should not be seen as a simple task.

Our promise to the people of Guyana will be fulfilled — ensuring equal opportunities, equal access, and advancing the vision of One Guyana, where every citizen, regardless of background or region, can share in the nation’s progress and prosperity.