By Delicia Janneire
The Ministry of Public Works is taking a stronger stance on the awarding of government contracts, addressing concerns about fairness and the capacity of contractors to deliver.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill highlighted these efforts during a recent meeting with contractors in Region 3.
In response to complaints that a select group of contractors consistently receive government projects, Minister Edghill stated that the ministry is moving to ensure that contracts are awarded openly and fairly.
He emphasized that going forward, the ministry will focus on limiting multiple bids from contractors under different names to prevent a small group from monopolizing projects.
This issue has contributed to delays in significant projects such as the bridge connecting Canal No. 2 and Belle West, as well as the Belle Vue Housing Scheme.
Minister Edghill assured contractors and the public that measures are being implemented to prevent a repeat of these issues, and to ensure broader participation in the contracting process.
Additionally, the ministry is cracking down on contractors who secure projects only to subcontract them to other companies.
This practice has sometimes resulted in subpar work, which the government aims to eliminate by holding contractors accountable for the quality of their deliverables.