GPL says truck purchases only constitute 35% of overall cost

—shipment, ancillary equipment, retrofitting, etc. make up bulk of cost

—procurement process was strictly followed

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, June 23, 2020

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has refuted a misleading article published last Friday in one of the daily newspapers under the heading, “GPL buys 8 bucket trucks for $587M.”

In a press release issued on Monday, the power utility company shed some clarity on the matter.

GPL explained that the cost for the trucks the company has ordered only constitutes 35 percent of the overall cost. The vehicles are to be retrofitted with various components to enable its specialised functions.

According to GPL, the ancillary equipment, monies associated with lifting the equipment along with retrofitting, freight and insurance costs are part of the total cost. Further, the delivery of the equipment from the USA and Europe, its subsequent commissioning and training of operators all add to the final cost.

On the procurement side, the utility company highlighted there were publications of bid documents since April of 2019. Between May and June of last year, GPL said some 12 paid advertisements were published in the local papers. It was not until December of the very year that Massy Group was approved by the GPL’s Board of Director for the award of contract.

Please see below for full press statement by GPL: