Prime Minister Mark Phillips
May 3 ,2021
Despite claims of a conflict of interest in the procurement by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) of two vehicles from a company managed by the Chairman of its board, Prime Minister Mark Phillips yesterday said he has not ordered a probe of the matter.
The purchase by the utility company has been heavily criticised by the Alliance for Change.
Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector yesterday said that GPL has already issued a statement justifying the purchase and at this time he will not comment further. Pressed further as to whether there will be any probe, he emphasised that his position at this time remains unchanged.
Stabroek News had been referred to the PM on the matter by Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill.
While GPL in a statement last week had referred to the purchase, it did not address the concerns of a conflict of interest if the vehicles were procured from a company connected to its Chair, Maurice Gajadhar.
GPL dismissed claims of impropriety, declaring in the statement that the vehicles were acquired through a National Competitive Bidding Process.
“Five bids were received and were comprehensively evaluated in accordance with the Company’s Procurement Manual. The tender was awarded to the lowest evaluated bidder. For clarity, these vehicles, which are the property of the Company are utilized by the Executive Directors in the execution of their duties,” the statement explained.
In his accountability column in today’s Stabroek News, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran said that the reported procurement at GPL and a scandal enmeshing the Guyana Oil Company pointed to a need for the screening of potential board members.
“Before proceeding with today’s article, a brief comment on two governance issues is not inappropriate. The first relates to the scandal at GUYOIL where board members got themselves involved in matters that are the preserve of management in relation to the negotiation of a procurement contract. The second involves GPL where two expensive vehicles were purchased from a business associated with the Chairman of the State-owned company. These two matters raise important questions about the basis of selection of board members generally; and whether they really understand their role and the parameters within which they are required to function.
“Potential board members ought to have been screened to ensure that their private interests are unlikely to conflict with their public duties. In this regard, the Article 4 of the Integrity Commission Act is clear on the issue of conflict of interest. It specifically requires public officials, among others, to ‘refuse or relinquish any outside employment, shareholdings or directorship which creates or is likely to create a conflict of interest’”.
On Tuesday last, employees of GPL staged a protest in which they called for an increase in wages and salaries. During the protest it was revealed that the company had purchased two new vehicles for use by senior managers from the Rudisa Motor Company Guyana Inc. Board Chairman Gajadhar is the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the company.
National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) General Secretary Dawchan Nagasar, who sits as a Director on the board yesterday declined to comment on whether there had been any discussion at the board on the purchase of the vehicles.
