00:00The General Contractors Association of Tobago wants transparency and fairness in the delivery of contracts in Tobago.
00:07GCAT says it wishes to place on record its clear dissatisfaction with the procurement approach utilized by the previous Secretary
00:16for Housing and Settlements.
00:17It contends that the procurement process could have been structured to give Tobago-based contractors a fair chance to participate
00:26by breaking down the program into packages or phases, as was done with previous housing programs around the island.
00:33Historically, housing projects and developments in Tobago have served not only as infrastructure projects but also as vehicles for local
00:42capacity building in the construction field.
00:45Previous frameworks often prioritized Tobago-based contractors with projects strategically unbundled to allow multiple firms across varying financial capacities to
00:58participate.
00:59The Tobago Contractors say this model ensured broader economic distribution, empowering local contractors while stimulating local employment across trades, professional
01:11services and ancillary sectors.
01:13While GCAT expresses its disappointment that decisions of this magnitude were executed in a manner that excluded Tobago contractors, it
01:23says it stands ready to partner with the government in advancing a more equitable, transparent and inclusive procurement framework to
01:32ensure that the development of Tobago is driven primarily by its people.
01:37Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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