Gov’t ministries now have special units to evaluate contractors’ work – Nandlall

As the government seeks out errant contractors for reproach, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, on Tuesday revealed that all government ministries now have specialised units monitoring the execution of contracted works.

A contract compliance unit has also been set up at the Attorney General’s Chambers to provide the appropriate guidance to the government ministries and where necessary, file legal proceedings against defaulting contractors.

“Contractors are cautioned to ensure that they discharge their functions diligently, that they execute their contracts expediently and that they deliver the quality of service that the contract contemplates and requires,” Nandlall said during his ‘Issues in the News’ weekly broadcast.

If there are any breaches of contract, the Attorney General said the relevant contractual clauses must be observed so that sanctions including liquidated damages, forfeiture of securities and termination of contracts are invoked.

A week ago, President Dr. Irfaan Ali instructed the relevant government ministries and agencies to penalise all defaulting contractors immediately.

According to him, contractors must face sanctions once their projects have gone past project deadlines and reasonable extensions, and once substandard work has been done.

Already, the Ministry of Public Works is moving towards terminating Kallco Guyana Inc’s contract for the completion of the COnversation Tree to Dennis Street road project.

Nandlall explained that the decision to establish these units stemmed from the President’s instructions to more rigidly monitor and sanction errant contractors.