By Radha Motielall | November 12, 2024
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a stern warning to ministers, permanent secretaries, project managers, and contractors, emphasizing the end of the culture of “passing the buck” and blaming others for the delays in government projects.
Speaking at a meeting this morning at State House, the President addressed the widespread failures in meeting project deadlines and the culture of inaction that has contributed to these delays.
The meeting, which convened at 5:30 AM, focused on projects that are running months behind schedule, with some exceeding the expected completion date by as much as four months.
President Ali expressed his frustration with the blame game and a lax attitude at all levels of government, which has contributed to the lack of accountability.
The President made it clear that all contractors with delayed projects must ensure completion by the end of this year.
Failure to meet this deadline without justifiable extensions will result in the termination of contracts.
Additionally, contractors who fail to deliver as promised may face blacklisting from future bids.
In his remarks, President Ali urged contractors to take more responsibility for managing their projects, stating that many contractors leave the execution of contracts solely in the hands of workers, which leads to delays.
He emphasized the importance of developing a culture of confidence and success within their businesses to ensure timely delivery.
Furthermore, the President instructed that all contractors, engineers, and other stakeholders who were late to the meeting be formally written to, holding them accountable for their tardiness.
This call for greater responsibility comes as the government seeks to ensure that projects are completed in a timely manner, contributing to the efficient use of public funds and the satisfaction of communities that depend on these developments.