Dear Editor,
With regards to the selection of a firm for the construction of the (Indian financed) Specialty Hospital (KN Nov 30), all indications are that Fedders Lloyd (was) is a far more competent and experienced company than Surendra Engineering to take the construction of the building to its logical end. It should be awarded the contract if all things are right about the project and there is no corruption. A re-tendering may very well result in Fedders be awarding the contract.
Fedders Lloyd may have bid slightly higher (tender amount in dispute) than Surendra to construct the hospital. But Surendra appears “unqualified” to carry out the huge task. It never constructed or outfitted a hospital; its specialty is “sugar” and even in this area questions were raised about its construction of the packaging facility. Lloyd claims it has done several hospital projects worldwide. Lloyd is a multi-national company operating in several countries whereas Surendra is not. Fedders’ professionalism is not being questioned whereas Surendra’s was. Surendra’s contract was terminated for failure to carry out the required work and the country lost money.
Fedders should have been given the contract from the outset. Since it was the only other credible company, aside from Surendra, it is only logical that Fedders be given the contract to complete the contract. The issue the country may face is that it will probably require a lot more than the remaining contract amount (of US $18M) to finish the hospital. Government will have to pay it or seek an increase in the loan from India.
It is hoped that corruption has played no role in awarding the contract to Fedders. The opposition complains that Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was the lawyer for Fedders when it placed its bid for the contract in 2013. The opposition believes that this association led to Fedders being given the contract. This is coincidental. Ramjattan has resigned as lawyer for the company. Nevertheless, every effort must be made to avoid a conflict of interest – lawyers on record for the government and for Fedders should not have close ties to Ramjattan or the AFC-APNU coalition. Every act must be above board.
Vishnu Bisram
