Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
TWO INSPECTORS from the Office of the Contractor General were chased from the Bureau of Standards in Kingston last Friday, after they had gone there to monitor a bidding process.
The Gleaner understands that the inspectors were unable to carry out their jobs because they were refused entry to the premises.
Contacted on Tuesday, Contractor-General Dr. Derrick McKoy said he did not want to comment on the matter.
But knowledgeable sources told The Gleaner that the Bureau recently placed an advertisement in the newspaper for an events planner for 'World Standards Day' to be celebrated on October 14, this year.
NO NEED FOR MONITORING
The contract was for approximately $300,000, which, because of its size, would not under normal circumstances attract the scrutiny of the contractor general.
"There might have been some misunderstanding as whether there was a right for the contractor general to monitor," an informed source said.
Meanwhile, several interested persons responded to the adver-tisement, but were not informed that they should attend the official bid opening on Tuesday, May 17. As a result, the Bureau placed an advertisement in the newspaper on Wednesday, June 8, stating that the new bid opening would be on Friday, June 10.
It is understood that the Office of the Contractor General advised the Bureau that since the initial bid opening was not held, the process would have to start all over, possibly involving new bidders.
However, The Gleaner understands that the Bureau was advised otherwise, that since the bid box was not tampered with, the bidders would only need to be invited to the new opening.
Despite several calls made to the Bureau on Tuesday, its executive director Dr. Omer Thomas did not speak with The Gleaner.
The newspaper was referred to Allan Brooks, the public relations officer.
Noting that proper procedures might not have been followed to accommodate the inspectors' visit, Mr. Brooks, however, said that "the contractor general has the right to visit any public office that in his judgement is prudent to visit."
"It's just a security problem because the Bureau is a sensitive agency," Mr. Brooks said.
He claimed that a meeting was held following the inspectors' lockout, and that it ended amicably.
