The Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into the award of the 2016 contract to Dutch firm LievenseCSO to conduct a feasibility study and design of a new Demerara Harbour Bridge, according to Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill.

Speaking during the installation of the new Board of Directors for the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company (DHBC) on Friday, Edghill was quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying, “There is an active police investigation as it relates to spending and actions as it relates to the last proposed bridge that was to be built, and the contract that was issued to that company, where there were concerns that due process was not followed.”

A DPI report said Edghill noted that he was recently informed of the investigation and that it follows a formal complaint to law enforcement. “Some members of staff and previous directors have been asked to co-operate with the police and to give statements,” he added.

In 2018, a Public Procurement Commission (PPC) investigation, which was requested by then People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, had found that the ministry breached the Procurement Act in awarding a contract in December 2016 to LievenseCSO for consultancy services for the feasibility study and design for the new bridge.

The report of the investigation said that MPI did not heed the advice offered by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to retender the project after the first tendering process failed to procure a company and the process was annulled.

The ministry, then headed by David Patterson, had defended the single-sourcing, citing what it said were time constraints surrounding the need to complete the new bridge and the fact that Cabinet had been fully involved in the decision to hire LievenseCSO.

The then opposition had pushed for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to investigate the award and Patterson was questioned. Almost a year later, in June, 2019, SOCU found that no criminal offence has been committed. In a statement then, the Guyana Police Force had said that legal advice had been obtained indicating that “a) There was no misuse of funds. b) There is no evidence that a criminal offence has been committed and c) There is no evidence of any collusion between Arie Mol/ LievenseCSO and the personnel from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.”

The new government has moved to invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the design and construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, which is to be a four-lane, high-span, fixed bridge from Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara to La Grange, West Bank Demerara.