Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill is fighting back against the growing claims of the discrimination in the awarding of government contracts.
The Opposition and several groups have come out against the government, questioning its policy as it relates to the awarding of contracts.
Allegations have also been leveled against the Government about close friends and associates of the governing party receiving hefty contracts while legitimate contractors have been left out.
In response, Works Minister Juan Edghill said with over one thousand road works alone currently ongoing, it is impossible for only one set of persons to benefit.
He said since the PPP government returned to office, there has been a number of new contractors that have been engaged for government projects.
“Somebody is admiring the PPPC’s development agenda, they are admiring the accelerated pace with which things are being implemented and they are factiously trying to cast shade by calling what is taking place family and friends,” Mr. Edghill said.
Last month, prominent Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, published a document where he outlined that since the return of the PPP/C government to office, majority of government contracts have been going to indo-Guyanese. In fact, in his publication, he detailed that afro-Guyanese contractors have not benefited from large government contracts.
But Mr. Edghill said Afro-Guyanese contractors are cashing in.
“Afro-Guyanese contractors are having a fair share of work, as a matter of fact, I don’t think there is a afro-Guyanese contractor that could come forward and say I have been left out, I have neglected and I am not getting work, I don’t believe that that is the reality,” Mr. Edghill said.
He said persons who are complaining about not receiving contracts have either not engaged the Government or their relevant paper work is not in order.
“And we give them a good start, by using a community approach by ensuring that they got work and start up to build their financial base and capacity to get into the system, that has happened over and over. At the Ministerial level, at the National tender board level, people have been engaging,” the Minister pointed out.
The Government continues to face allegations of discrimination, but has long said that all of its policies are for the benefit of all Guyanese.