$100 million contract granted to “inexperienced” road contractor being questioned
Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has criticised the award of a road contract to what he said is an inexperienced company, Vieira 66 Logistics.
In a social media post, Patterson said that contract for $100M has been awarded for Phase II of Hunter Street, Georgetown to what he said is a new company.
Patterson said that the company has never done any road project for the Ministry of Public Works before this award as he said it would be “It would be interesting to learn how they were able to meet the pre-qualification requirements” for such a technical project.
When contacted for a response, Minister of Works, Juan Edghill asked if the government “should continue a regime of discrimination?” Edghill said that the project publicly tendered as and the contractor’s technical and other capacities were evaluated by the National Procurement and Tender Administration.
Edghill asked “at what stage is a new person allowed to enter the market if they are not qualified.”
Vieira 66 Logistics was recently awarded the contract late last year to complete works on the road that stretches from West Ruimveldt Front Road to Mandela Avenue. The company is owned by Mark Vieira.
