…advisory issued to Guyana’s procuring entities not to award them or their company any contract

Three Guyanese and two companies related to them remain on the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) blacklist, years after they were first sanctioned by the regional financial institution.

The three Guyanese Vevakanand Dalip, Sabrina Mary Williams, and Abel Khemraj Rai. Dalip’s firm, V. Dalip Enterprise is also on the list as well as Sidrai Enterprises that is reported to have connections with Rai.

The trio as well as V. Dalip Enterprise and Sidrai Enterprises were listed on a circular, addressed to all procuring entities from Guyana’s Public Procurement Commission (PPC), advising them that no contract shall be awarded to an entity that has been debarred by the Commission. The PPC debarred Dalip and his company for almost 13 years (February 2, 2018 to December 29, 2030). 

Williams was also debarred for the same period. Rai was debarred for seven years (November 29, 2016 to August 22, 2024) while Sidrai Enterprises was debarred for seven years (February 21, 2017 to June 29, 2024). According to the PPC website, Dalip and his company should not be awarded any contract between February 20, 2018 and December 28, 2030.

The PPC was established under Article 212 W of the Constitution of Guyana, was constituted on October 28, 2016 when the first five Commissioners were sworn in by former President David Granger.

Reasons for disbarment

Back in 2018, a total of eight Guyanese firms and individuals were on the IDB’s list for fraudulent and collusive practices.  According to information from the IDB’s website, Dalip and his company were debarred for fraud and collusion for 13 years (December 29, 2017 to December 28, 2030).

Williams was also debarred for fraud and collusion from the same period. As it relates to Rai, he was debarred for fraud and collusion. He was added to the blacklist on August 23, 2016 and will be removed next year, on August 22.

Sidrai Enterprises, a company reported to have connections with Rai is debarred for collusion from June 30, 2016 to June 29, 2024. According to the IDB Dalip, Williams and Rai were sanctioned for having engaged in fraudulent, and collusive, practices which are collectively prohibited practices and are in violation of the IDB Group’s Sanctions Procedures and anti-corruption policies.

Importantly, it was stated that debarred firms or individuals are ineligible to be awarded and participate in any IDB financed contract for the periods indicated.  Also, the ineligibility may extend to any firm or individual who directly or indirectly controls the debarred firm or any firm which the debarred firm directly or indirectly controls. In the case of a debarred individual, ineligibility may extend to any firm which the debarred individual directly or indirectly controls.

V. Dalip Enterprise awarded contract in December 2021

In contravention of the sanction, V. Dalip Enterprise was awarded a contract by the Ministry of Housing and Water back in December 2021. Dalip’s company received an $889 million contract for the completion of Lot 2 of the Eccles to Great Diamond four-lane highway.

The blacklisted company is among 12 contractors who will executive the works for the $13.3 billion road project.