Public Procurement Commission lacks authority to revoke Critic’s $870M Pump Station Contract Despite finding Irregularities

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has uncovered multiple irregularities in the granting of an $870 million pump station contract to Tepui Incorporated, a newly established firm managed by social media personality Mikhail Rodrigues, also known as “The Guyanese Critic.” Despite the findings, the Commission lacks authority to revoke the contract.

Opposition Member of Parliament David Patterson initiated the investigation by filing a complaint with the Commission regarding the contract’s allocation to Tepui.

The nearly billion-dollar contract to Tepui drew criticism from the Parliamentary Opposition, questioning the company’s capability to execute such a project, especially given that it wasn’t the lowest or second lowest bidder.

In response to Patterson’s inquiry, the Procurement Commission detailed several irregularities but conceded its inability to alter the contract post-signing due to legal constraints.

The Commission found Tepui’s claimed experience in similar projects to be misleading, as none had been completed despite their submission as references.

Moreover, the evaluation committee’s discretion in determining project similarity was scrutinized, emphasizing adherence to evaluation criteria.

Tepui’s reliance on non-financial entities for credit and bid bonds raised further concerns, as did their failure to submit financial statements and equipment ownership evidence.

Despite these breaches, the contract remains untouched, as confirmed by the Procurement Commission.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh acknowledged the investigation’s findings and assured consideration of its recommendations for future contracts.