Dealer blows lid on Education Ministry’s book scam -- Billions spent on outdated text books -- manipulates procurement procedures

February 26, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News

Former Minister of Education Shaik Baksh

“You have to understand that there is no clear-cut text book policy in Guyana. Many of the books being ordered…there is no way to determine whether they are relevant to the curriculum or not. So books are being ordered and sometimes even the teachers don’t want them.”

A local book dealer is calling on President Donald Ramotar to immediately launch an investigation into the system of text book ordering. He is claiming that there are widespread irregularities and fraud involved in the process.

According to Bholan Boodhoo, owner of the Horizon Bookshop in Alberttown, and a long time dealer of text books, the procurement system is deliberately being manipulated so that specific companies are granted the contract.

The Auditor General’s report covering government accounts of 2010, excerpts of which were published in this newspaper last Sunday, found instances in which hundreds of millions of dollars were written up in cheques, months before the contracts were awarded.

It not only signaled that there were serious irregularities but also that there was the shocking possibility that the procurement process in Guyana through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board may have been compromised.

The report also suggested that books were also being partially delivered.

Kaieteur News was told that people high up in the Ministry of Education and specific dealers awarded the contracts, deliberately delivered short and would split the proceeds.

Text books dealing in Guyana is a billion dollar business.

According to Boodhoo, the way the procurement system is being run in Guyana is hugely unfair to other dealers and may even threaten the level of education in the country.

No policy

“You have to understand that there is no clear-cut text book policy in Guyana. For many of the books being ordered…there is no way to determine whether they are relevant to the curriculum. So books are being ordered and sometimes even the teachers don’t want them. They are distributed in the schools and left in the storeroom.”

Another major issue over the ordering of text books is that a large percentage ordered are called infringed copies– photocopies. A business on West Coast Demerara (name given) is the main supplier of photocopied text books.
“This is a clear violation of several regional and international laws. It saves money but how could a ministry and government by extension, sanction an illegality? We have legitimate book dealers in Guyana who are answerable to their companies.

Text book dealer, Bholan Boodhoo

“We have books that we are scared to even put on shelves because they are being bought and then photocopied or infringed and then resold,” the businessman said.

Many of the contracts awarded are through sole sourcing procurement procedures, meaning that the Ministry has already decided which company will get the contract.

“This is clearly a breach of what sole tendering is all about. For one company to be eligible as a sole tender, the ministry will have to show that it can’t buy from anywhere else and the orders must be with all the relevant specifications included.

“This may be true if you are ordering a Wartsila engine or Caterpillar set…then you will have to go to the company that makes them. In the Guyana case, only some books could be ordered through sole sourcing…not all as is being done,” Boodhoo stressed.

However, in many cases, the contracts are just being awarded as sole sourcing without evidence being presented that the books are not available elsewhere.

And how is it being done?

Manipulation

“On the approval granted by the Cabinet, the list will more than likely have general descriptions of texts but no names of the books wanted. This is another way in which legitimate dealers are being shafted because they don’t have a clear idea of what is needed.”

In many cases, the Ministry of Education just does not advertise for the books.

“In the absence of a Procurement Commission, it is hard to complain,” the dealer said.

That commission is the body which would have heard complaints being filed by aggrieved parties on alleged instances where government’s procurement processes were not followed. The commission, despite public clamouring, has not yet been established by the government.

“Many of the books being ordered are not revised and outdated.”

At least three businesses are now selling infringed copies of text books at a fraction of the costs. One is located in Water Street and another on Croal Street.

“Those infringed copies are of poor qualities and in black and white in most cases. In almost all the cases the businesses selling the books are not dealers or are just not authorized.”

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News was told that when text books are purchased, whether they are infringed or not, they are delivered to the Ministry of Education’s Book Distribution Unit.

The Auditor General report on the Ministry’s 2010 accounts found that in most cases, records of that unit did not match up with what was ordered. Insiders are saying records are deliberately not being provided to state auditors.

In most cases, the Book Distribution Unit is not provided or made aware of what was ordered from the supplier…only what is being delivered.

Further, even records being kept at the unit are poor and sources at the Education Ministry again say that this is deliberately so that in cases of checks, it will be hard to track instances of short delivery, among other fraudulent activities.

In the Auditor General’s report of the 2010 accounts, auditors found one instance where a massive $110M order was made for text books but two cheques for the amount were made months before the contract was awarded.

According to the report, the fact that the payments took place in the fourth and ninth months of 2011, confirms the use of a strategy to defeat the controls as set out in the government’s Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMA), by the withdrawal of sums appropriated in one year and holding them for extended periods for spending in another year during the life of another Appropriation Act.

Breach

“It is even more disturbing that such a serious breach is aided and abetted by the Ministry of Finance, through a process in which stale dated cheques are extended for use at current dates. This was the case of the second cheque which was updated on June 9, 2011.”

In charge of the Ministry at the time was Minister Shaik Baksh, who was not included in the current Cabinet under new President Donald Ramotar. He was also embroiled in a questionable contract involving the delivery of computers to a number of schools.

In 2009, cheques were also written up days before the end of the year for book orders that would have been delivered in 2010, an occurrence that the state auditors found disturbing.

It was this same supplier who was given contracts in 2010 to the tune of $230M but cheques were drawn up in December 2009. There were several discrepancies also with those contracts including one that was “surprisingly” dated one year later on January 21, 2011.

According to the report, the Tender Board approval did not disclose details of the orders, including the book titles, authors, quantities or even costs.

On request, the Ministry of Education provided two contracts and three book lists that give details of the order.

“The Audit Office was unable to validate delivery on the orders, as the state of accounting at the Book Delivery Unit (BDU) made accounting for the books impractical. It should be noted that the BDU provided delivery invoices with supply details of several books. However, these invoices were not referenced to the related orders and did not include the prices of the books supplied.”

National Centre of Educational Resource Development (NCERD), an arm of the Ministry of Education, is the department that is reportedly in charge of ordering text books.

His libel suit against KN won't go anywhere since the judiciary is anti-PPP and anti-Indian. Think of the numerous court cases involving racially motivated killings of Indos by Afro-Guyanese that have been thrown out by Pro-PNC magistrates and judges. Hammy Green bankrupted the Mirror back in the eighties with a libel suit. Don't hold your breadth for any such thing to happen to KN of SN

Another $$$MILLIONs Scam.

Bhai, Kaiteur News is not called the Watafall Paper fuh nothing. Wata fall pun deh paper and then wipe Batty after taking a Shit.

Nehru, you'll have to improve your language if you want this minister job.

Kellawan Lall ah Minista why cant I???

quote:

Originally posted by Wendy Holmes:
Nehru, you'll have to improve your language if you want this minister job.

quote:

Many of the contracts awarded are through sole sourcing procurement procedures, meaning that the Ministry has already decided which company will get the contract.

Hmmmmmm!

The former Minister also did not address several critical accusations raised in the Auditor General’s report, including why cheques for hundreds of millions of dollars were written months before the contracts were approved, or why text books were being ordered from one supplier as is evident from contracts approved by the Cabinet.

I wonder why he is objecting to his picture being posted?

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....act-awards-payments/

 

Education Ministry text book scam…Baksh: I was not involved in contract awards, payments

 

Former Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, has distanced himself from what is turning out to be a major scam involving the ordering of text books.
Yesterday, in a statement threatening Kaieteur News with possible legal action, Baksh who was not returned as a Minister or a Parliamentarian under the Donald Ramotar administration, also said that he was not involved in matters pertaining to finances and accounting while he was at the Ministry.
However, he failed to address several critical issues in the article. Rather, he made it clear that the Budget Agency and other senior officials of the Ministry are responsible for tender processes and payments.
“…all matters pertaining to finance and accounting functions, including the implementation of tender processes, contract administration and contract payments are the responsibility of the Head of the Budget Agency and other senior officials of the Ministry.”
The former Minister also did not address several critical accusations raised in the Auditor General’s report, including why cheques for hundreds of millions of dollars were written months before the contracts were approved, or why text books were being ordered from one supplier as is evident from contracts approved by the Cabinet.
The headline story in last Sunday’s edition (February 26) “Dealer blows lid on Education Ministry book scam…” did not accuse Baksh of being involved. Rather, the article merely pointed out that he was in charge, as Minister, in 2010.
The article stemmed from the 2010 Report of the Auditor General on the accounts of Guyana, which includes the Ministry of Education.
According to Baksh, the headline is a total fabrication and wicked in its intent.
Book dealer, Bholan Boodhoo, the local agent for Longman text books, in the Kaieteur News report over the weekend, accused the Ministry of having no clear text policy and as a result, outdated text books and photocopied ones were being ordered and even short delivered, in a deliberate scam…all paid for with government funds.

DEAFENING SILENCE
The former Minister did not address this, but insisted there is a policy. He also did not raise the issue of the government’s policy on the ordering of text books that are photocopied or infringed, an aspect that Boodhoo say is worrying overseas suppliers.
“There is a clearly well defined text book policy and guidelines for the selection of text books.  There is also a text book selection committee which is comprised of senior professional officers of the Ministry and is supported by specialists and educators in the selection of text books,” Baksh said in the statement sent via an email address that he was using while he was Minister.
He highlighted CSEC text books as an example.
“All the textbooks procured for the thirty-one subjects taken by students at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), with some exceptions, are based on the published recommended texts by the Caribbean Examinations Council.”
No fraud?
He also said that the Auditor General’s Report has not revealed that a fraud or misappropriation of funds had taken place in this contract.
Regarding the $110M which was written months before the contracts for texts awarded, Baksh argued that since the Ministry sought and obtained approval from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to procure the text books from a local supplier at a cost of $110.291M, there was no breach of the tender and award process. He did not explain how the cheques could have been written up months before approval was granted.
The former Minister said it cannot be denied that the PPP/C government has placed much importance in strengthening the Auditor General’s Office and ensuring yearly reports are submitted to Parliament.
“This has contributed to identification of systems weaknesses, breaches of procedures, legislation and irregularities.”
The statement from Baksh also said that in due course, the Auditor General’s Report 2010 will be subject to scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
“The Head of the Budget Agency and senior officials will be called upon to explain and account for any breaches of procedures, regulations, law etc.”
Sidelined
Boodhoo, the book dealer, in the article said legitimate businesses are sidelined by the Ministry which used unfair practices to ensure only certain suppliers received contracts.
He called on President Ramotar to get involved.
According to the businessman, the procurement system is deliberately being manipulated in the process.
The Auditor General’s report covering government accounts of 2010, excerpts of which were published in this newspaper a week ago, found instances in which hundreds of millions of dollars were written up in cheques, months before the contracts were awarded.
It not only signaled that there were serious irregularities but also that there was the shocking possibility that the procurement process in Guyana, through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, may have been compromised.
The report also suggested that books were also being partially delivered.
Kaieteur News was told that people high up in the Ministry of Education and specific dealers awarded the contracts, deliberately delivered short and would split the proceeds.
Text books dealing in Guyana is a billion-dollar business.
According to Boodhoo, the ordering of photocopied text books is a “clear violation of several regional and international laws. It saves money, but how could a ministry and government by extension, sanction an illegality? We have legitimate book dealers in Guyana who are answerable to their companies. We have books that we are scared to even put on shelves because they are being bought and then photocopied or infringed and then resold”.
Many of the contracts awarded are through sole sourcing procurement procedures, meaning that the Ministry has already decided which company will get the contract.
“This is clearly a breach of what sole tendering is all about. For one company to be eligible as a sole tender, the ministry will have to show that it can’t buy from anywhere else and the orders must be with all the relevant specifications included. This may be true if you are ordering a Wartsila engine or Caterpillar set…then you will have to go to the company that makes them.” However, in many cases, the contracts are just being awarded as sole sourcing without evidence being presented that the books are not available elsewhere. And how is it being done?
“On the approval granted by the Cabinet, the list will more than likely have general descriptions of texts, but no names of the books wanted. This is another way in which legitimate dealers are being shafted, because they don’t have a clear idea of what is needed. In many cases, the Ministry of Education just does not advertise for the books.”

An luxury at the taxpayers’ expense

 

Dear Editor,
Everyone is aware that Mr Shaik Baksh is no longer a Minister of Government nor is he serving the Government in an Advisory capacity and still has two state vehicles in his possession. These vehicles are being maintained at the expense of the taxpayers of this country.
Mr Baksh drives an open back pick-up PLL 9043 while his son drives a grey Prado PKK 7000. It is instructive to note that the current Minister of Education is without a State vehicle as is the custom and practice.
The good lady has to use a vehicle from her Ministry’s pool while Baksh is having fun. Can the Head of the Presidential Secretariat cause this situation to be put right. Shame on you Baksh, you have had enough from us Tax Payers.
Teddy L Ross

Who is saying KN is spouting nonsense?  Is it the one and same of the infamous "Barber Shop" computer scandal?  And the more recent text book scandal?

 

The AFC's Bholan Boodhoo gives some further context to the billion dollar book scam involving the Ministry of Education and Sheik Baksh which he helped to uncover.

The parasites days are numbered.

The lies of the kaietuer News is being exposed almost on a daily basis, the creditability of the Kaietuer News is under serious pressure...

bakesh is a drunk and a thief he can sue me,i hope he go to jail,not for thiefing but treason,i say when you thief the government money it should be treason,punishable by death or life inprisonment.these people held distroy guyana

bakesh? Who is  he?! Come on!  A  true  warrior  cannot   be  a  chicken!