First published in The Tribune under the byline, Young Man's View.
THE gravy train of no-bid, politically driven contracts became the order of the day when the “new” PLP was swaggering in power has seemingly come to an abrupt end.
Works Minister Dr Earl Deveaux must be applauded for his efforts in seeking to ensure greater transparency in the bidding and tendering process for government contracts while also restoring the public’s trust in his ministry.
Outrageously, an independent audit by British Crown Agents, commissioned by the Auditor General and issued to the then PLP government needed a year ago, revealed that more than 75 per cent of all (Ministry of Works) high value contracts awarded by the former government were not part out to bid.
Further, it was claimed that contractor selection was “not done in an open, transparent or fair manner” and appeared to be on a basis that had nothing to do with competitiveness or merit.
According to a published letter accredited to Dr Deveaux:
“Auditors found evidence that quality, timeliness and value-for-money of contracted works has been compromised.”
“Many staff feel disempowered and disillusioned as a result of not being fully in charge of the contracting process.
Given the lack of competition, the auditors believe the Ministry cannot credibly claim to be managing public finances correctly,” he said.
It is a disgrace that political entities in the former government would have seeming sought to undermine the recommendations and good judgment of trained staff in favor of showering contracts on party loyalists and inexpert cronies.
Under the former government, it appears that transparency and accountability were deserted in favor of cronyism, nepotism and sheer favouritism—all rudiments of a Third World political climate!
Minister Deveaux, and his government, was correct in cancelling the abundance of pork barrel, election season contracts that were hastily dispersed before the General Election.
The PLP should be ashamed as an independent body, chosen during their governance, critically decimated their contract scheme and highlighted that several of the contractors chosen for projects were unqualified, sluggish and substandard workers.
Sadly, the apparent giveaway of contracts under the former administration has also led to allegations by homeowners in government subdivision that there are “massive structural faults” with their homes.
There has been such a litany of complaints about the quality of construction of some homes built by the former government that the FNM government budgeted a significant amount for repairs of such buildings.
Just recently, a resident of Adelaide complained that the floor in her home was dropping away from the walls, which themselves were cracking.
Allegedly, the former government constructed 30 homes in this area (Adelaide), which was a site that was unsuitable for buildings, particularly since numerous gaping craters were filled in and, since construction, homes appear to be “sinking”.
Was this another “bum job” done by overzealous, handpicked contractors? Why didn’t the building contractors and/or ministry’s inspectors advise the ministries responsible of the land’s poor quality?
Or, were they simply unqualified?
While the PLP administration was in office, the contract to construct a new straw market was pegged at an eye-popping $23 million.
In the eyes of many discerning Bahamians, awarding such a contract was off the wall, particularly since entire schools have been constructed for less and also because there seemed to be no logic behind such a hefty deal.
The new government was right to cancel what appeared to be a loaded contract!
Dr Deveaux’s efforts to establish a Contractors Database, with listings of competent contractors and building firms, has been a giant leap towards ensuring an equitable bidding process that is free of favouritism.
The Ministry of Works’ rotation system, if successfully administered, will prevent one contractor from obtaining a plethora of public works contracts, with contract awardees being rotated out of the bidding pool to make way for contracts to be fairly distributed to other capable companies.
Hopefully, the database can also be made available to members of the general public who seek builders to construct apartments and other enterprises, but are regularly shafted by dishonest contractors.
While the Works minister says that he’s not currently pressing for the government to require contractors to lodge performance bonds for public works in excess of $1 million when amendments to the Contractors Bill are finally completed, I think that Bahamas Contractors Association president Stephen Wrinkle has a point in lobbying for the proposed policy.
Mr Wrinkle argues that requiring performance bonds would complement the Bill’s intent to license Bahamian contractors in the work categories and contract size for which they qualify.
In his efforts to reform his ministry and the bidding process, Dr Deveaux must also initiate internal investigations to rid his ministry of any corrupt inspectors, who I’m told, are subject to bribes and may even be on the pay roll of certain unscrupulous contractors who use them for inside information and to gave favorable accounts of the progress of any public works.
It appears that the days when crooked contractors could get away with shoddy work but continue to get a free ride on the taxpayers hog from one big contract to another, due to party affiliations, may be coming to an end.
Dr Deveaux is a man of substance and stands above the ministerial fold, and he and his team deserve kudos for his initiatives.
MALCOLM ADDERLEY IS INVISIBLE—AGAIN!
During the PLP’s vote of no confidence in the Speaker of the House, Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley was again an invisible man.
For several months following the May 2nd elections, it has been speculated that Mr Adderley will walk the floor and officially join the FNM. In the run-up to the elections, Mr Adderley’s nomination was noticeably held up by his party. I, like many others—even in his party—thought that he would be relegated to the political wilderness. Surprisingly, he won his seat and I congratulate him.
The Elizabeth MP’s party allegiance has been in question since he opted to remain as chairman of the Bahamas Gaming Board. Mr Adderley has also been rumoured to have felt snubbed by the PLP during their time in government, as he was never given a ministerial post—even though Alfred Sears held two posts, as both Minister of Education and Attorney General.
It is also speculated that Mr Adderley felt that he was not supported by his party during the election campaign.
Malcolm Adderley’s absence must have left former PM Perry Christie feeling deeply insecure, because if the Elizabeth MP was to take the long walk across the floor, all of the PLP’s court actions would count for naught.
Is it that Mr Adderley was conveniently absent because he didn’t want to vote against a Speaker with whom he would soon share allegiances?
When PM Hubert Ingraham was recruited to become leader of the FNM, it was exclaimed that “the eagle had landed.” This time, if Malcolm Adderley abandons the PLP’s sinking ship, new meaning will be given to the Bahamian maxim “bush crack, man gone!”
