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-Education Minister tells contractors at meeting
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Friday warned contractors against shoddy work. During a meeting held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston, she said her Ministry has a zero tolerance for sub-standard work.
The meeting which saw over 100 contractors present was aimed at allowing contractors to voice their concerns, a statement from the Ministry of Education said. The meeting also allowed new contractors who were not pre-qualified an opportunity to understand the processes involved to becoming pre-qualified while giving them an opportunity to register with the Ministry of Education so that they can become part of a larger pool of individuals and companies who can benefit from job opportunities.
Manickchand said her Ministry will be employing a strict posture towards contractors in relation to the quality of work done and the stipulated timelines.
“If you take work from us and you don’t do it, you will see the door because the people we serve, our children and teachers deserve no less,” the Minister remarked. She added that there will be better monitoring of work being done to ensure that the Ministry and its stakeholders receive value for money.
Meanwhile, contractors who were not pre-qualified were given the opportunity to begin the process for pre-qualification and Minister Manickchand assured that systems will be improved to ensure that there is no inordinate delay as it relates to the processing of payments for completed work.
She said the Ministry of Education is looking to foster a relationship where there is mutual benefit in the best interest of all stakeholders.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alfred King; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance) Ms. Brandford and senior officers within the Procurement and Buildings Departments were also present at Friday’s meeting.
