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Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn (fifth from left) hands over the contract document to Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise Nazar Mohamed. (Ministry of Home Affairs photo)

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn (fifth from left) hands over the contract document to Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise Nazar Mohamed. (Ministry of Home Affairs photo)

November 25 ,2021

Source

Gold dealer Mohamed’s Enterprise, yesterday signed a $614 million contract for the construction of the new Guyana Fire Service Headquarters building on Homestretch Avenue, a move that has since raised questions about the firm’s  experience in executing such a large project.

According to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) website, Mohamed’s Enterprise submitted a bid for $858,788,980 so it is unclear as to how a contract was signed for $614 million.

Efforts to contact NPTAB’s Chairman Tarachand Balgobin were unsuccessful.

The contract was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Thomas and Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise Nazar Mohamed in the presence of Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn.

The signing of this contract comes on the heels of the $346 million contract for the construction of the Bamia Primary School in Linden being awarded to St8ment Investment Inc – a less than six months old company and whose principals are closely linked to the government.

At yesterday’s signing, Benn said that construction of the new Fire Service Headquarters is expected to commence no later than December 1, 2021, and completion is expected in 14 months. He added that the relocation of the Guyana Fire and Ambulance Service, from the highly congested Stabroek Market square, will help increase the emergency response timings.

Benn further stated that more space would be added for the storage of equipment and assets.

The headquarters will be built just west, of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue and next to the proposed Guyana Football Federation’s complex. The Ministry opened the competitive bidding process in early October and the tenders were opened by the NPTAB on October 26.

Twelve bids were received and according to the engineer’s estimate, the project is expected to cost $648,600,670.

The 12 companies that bid were PD Contracting with a bid of $580,131,313; International Imports & Supplies $620,043,794; A&N Enterprise $616,616,534; Quality Deliverer $490,580,934; SD Investment $630,265,880; Navin & Son’s Construction $587,313,476; Memorex Enterprises $604,009,738; STP Investment Inc $648,077,094; Mohamed’s Enterprise $858,788,980; Nabi Construction Inc $619,881,084; Ivor Allen $641,490,199 and R. Bassoo & Sons Construction Company Inc $ 657,298,466.

Section 39 (2) of the Public Procurement Act of 2003 states “The Evaluation Committee shall, using only the evaluation criteria outlined in the tender documents, evaluate all tenders, determine which tenderer has submitted the lowest evaluated tender, and convey its recommendation to the procuring entity within a reasonable period of time, but not longer than fourteen days.” It is unclear whether the lowest bid, which came from Quality Deliverer for $490,580,934, was non-responsive.

Back in June, the Ministry of Home Affairs signed contracts worth an estimated $1.2b for the reconstruction of the Lusignan Prison Lots 1-3 and among the recipients were Mohamed’s Enterprises for the reconstruction of one of those blocks.

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Mohamed’s enterprise defends being awarded Fire Service construction contract;

Points to its 30-year experience in construction

November 25 ,2021

Source

The company pointed out that it has been involved in construction for 30 years and its projects include the construction of its own main office on Lombard Street, the Albouystown masjid, and two state-of-the-art buildings for the ISA Islamic School as well as countless homes for Guyanese.

Mohamed’s enterprise defends being awarded Fire Service construction contract; Points to its 30-year experience in construction

One day after being awarded a $614 million contract for the construction of the new Guyana Fire Service headquarters, Mohamed’s Enterprise has found itself pushing back against questions of its competence in the construction sector.

Mohamed’s Enterprise has been involved in the gold mining sector for decades.

Questions were raised on social media about the company’s experience in the construction sector after it was announced that it had won the contract to build the new Fire Service headquarters.

In a statement today, Mohamed’s Enterprise rejected questions about its experience and competence in the construction industry.

The company pointed out that it has been involved in construction for 30 years and its projects include the construction of its own main office on Lombard Street, the Albouystown masjid, and two state-of-the-art buildings for the ISA Islamic School as well as countless homes for Guyanese.

Mohamed’s Enterprise also stated that it has constructed four of the major laydown yards currently in use by many of the oil and gas companies and tier one contractors, adding that its exceptional work remains unmatched.

It was also explained by the company that it has used its resources, its labour, skilled and competent Guyanese engineers, contractors and workers to respond to the demand for quality work and it has no apologies for that.

The company said it is unfortunate that the quality of its work is now being questioned when it has also constructed homes within the time frame for the Ministry of Housing’s elevated homes project.

The company assured that it will not waste or misuse taxpayers’ hard-earned money and it is for that reason that it has ensured that all projects are approached with the necessary due diligence and under the necessary rule of law.

The Government has been coming under some criticism over the handing out of multi-million dollar contracts in the past months to many of its close associates.

Django

Google says, Cronyism is the practice of partiality in awarding jobs and other advantages to friends or trusted colleagues, especially in politics and between politicians and supportive organizations. ... Whereas cronyism refers to partiality to a partner or friend, nepotism is the granting of favour to relatives.

Mitwah

If as it's said, this company did all that work why would their workmanship be in question?

No mention was ever made previously about Mohamed's Enterprise (gold dealer) having been into construction.

So with the exchange rate, Mohamed's bid was for approx CDN $5, 225,000 + but they actually accepted the contract at $3, 738,646..approx 1.5m less....sniff sniff.

cain

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