VP Bharrat Jagdeo Assures Every Pre-Qualified Small Contractor Will Receive a Contract This Year

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has pledged that every contractor on the government’s pre-qualified list for small projects will receive at least one contract by the end of the year, including the 530 contractors registered in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The assurance was given during a Public Day outreach at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in Fort Wellington, where hundreds of residents gathered to engage directly with government officials.

Addressing contractors’ concerns, Dr Jagdeo said the commitment stems from the government’s election promise to expand economic opportunities and ensure that more citizens benefit from public infrastructure projects.

He explained that the pre-qualification programme was broadened after concerns that only a limited group of contractors had access to government work. To encourage wider participation, the registration period was initially set at one month and later extended to three months, allowing more people to sign up via the online system.

According to the Vice-President, contracts valued below $15 million are being awarded through the pre-qualified contractors programme rather than through the traditional tendering process. This approach, he noted, was designed to distribute opportunities more evenly among small contractors, rather than allowing a few firms to dominate the market.

Projects exceeding the $15 million threshold will continue to be awarded through open competitive bidding, in which dozens of contractors often compete for a single contract.

Dr Jagdeo also reassured contractors who have not yet received work that they remain in line for future allocations. He said contractors awarded projects in the first round will not immediately receive additional contracts, as the government intends to move through the list to ensure broader participation.

Urging patience, he emphasised that those still waiting will receive opportunities throughout the year.

However, the Vice-President made it clear that individuals who failed to register during the three-month application period will not be considered for this year’s allocations and must wait until the next registration cycle to participate in the programme.