Georgetown: Dr. Krishna Naraine and SRKN’s involvement in monitoring the project approving payment certificates for Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall’s Synergy Holdings Inc even as the ‘road’ contractor bungled a US$15.4M project is clear evidence of corruption and as such the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, must move to the courts to prosecute and seek recompense immediately.
This is according to Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, who says now that the opposition has forced the Government to provide the contract documents on various projects which also inherently illustrates that the Government was in possession of evidence of corruption all along.
Ramjattan says that the Attorney General, instead of attempting to hoodwink the nation with court action as it relates to Parliamentary Committees as well as the recent court action, which the AFC Chairman says is based on suspicion as it relates to the Guyana Cricket Board, should move to prosecute SRKN.
Ramjattan says that the Attorney General who is the legal advisor to the Government must move to the courts with prosecutorial action against Dr. Naraine, who Ramjattan opines clearly did not do the job that he was paid to do with the tax-payers’ dollars.
The AFC Chairman says that should Nandlall refuse to prosecute, then the AFC will definitely be considering and pushing for a Parliamentary No Confidence Motion. Should a Parliamentary No Confidence Motion be approved in the House then Nandlall will have no option but to resign as Minister of Legal Affairs which Ramjattan says is standard in a democracy.
Ramjattan said that he is certain that he will receive the support of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in pursuing this course of action. He reminded that opposition parties have their role to play that they did in pushing for the contract documents to be released.
During the course of the past week the finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh made publicly available the contract documents involving the proposed Marriott Hotel, the proposed CJIA expansion project as well as the Consultancy Project which Dr. Naraine landed to oversee and approve the works which was being undertaken by Synergy Holdings Inc.
Dr. Naraine, in his proposal, had committed to: Check (Contractor Fip Motilall’s Construction Methodology) to ensure conformity with specifications; Review construction sequence and advise on modifications if necessary; Check types and weights of equipment to be used by contractor; Ensure that construction methods including temporary works are conducive to the proper execution of the permanent works and have respect for the safety of persons, the works and existing property; Approve payment certificates (for Fip Motilall’s Synergy Holdings Inc completed works); Ensure environmental requirements are observed; Ensure that each part of the work is constructed in accordance with the drawings, specifications and directions of the engineer; Hold weekly site meetings to review progress of the project; Supervise field tests; Analyse laboratory tests reports; Suggest modifications to design to client based on site conditions and Update work programmes among others.
Dr. Naraine was handsomely paid to undertake this task for which many have opined that he too failed miserably.
Carl Greenidge, the point man for APNU told this publication that while they have not addressed any of the documents in detail as yet they are currently assembling a team to undertake the task.
He said that APNU would also be pushing for a full parliamentary review of the documents that would determine the requisite course of action necessary to remedy the situation.
Under the contract with SRKN, the client which in this case was the Government of Guyana, could have terminated the contract if, “the consultant does not remedy a failure in the performance of their obligations under the contract, within 30 days after being notified or within any further period as the client may subsequently determine in writing.”
At the commencement of the project Motilall’s credibility and ability to undertake the project came in for intense scrutiny. Dr. Naraine was presiding as consultant over and throughout the failings of Motilall even though the Government could have terminated this arrangement which cost Guyana an additional $63.5M.
The Government never invoked this clause thereby allowing SRKN to keep its $63M contract to watch-over Motilall who continued to fail miserably even though it had at its disposal another clause which provided termination of the contract at the sole discretion “and for any reason whatsoever” by the client (Government).
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