Fast Construction Denied SIF Contract; SIF Says Otherwise

Tonight, the Belize Social Investment Fund is confirming that Fast Construction has, in fact, done business with the institution. That confirmation is significant because Fast Construction, a company linked to the Mira family through Keith Mira, recently denied any suggestion that it was party to a contract with SIF. The company has come under public scrutiny after leaked Smart Stream invoices showed that it received more than one point five million dollars in payments from the Government of Belize, primarily through the Ministry of Defense. Then, in a June twenty-ninth release, Fast Construction pushed back against allegations of preferential treatment from government entities. In that statement, the company rejected any claim that it had a contract with the Social Investment Fund. But tonight, SIF is saying otherwise. We asked Executive Director Carlos Tun about Fast Construction’s dealings with SIF, and he confirmed that the company did execute a contract for them.

 

Paul Lopez

“Has Fast Construction ever won a bid from SIF in the past?”

 

Carlos Tun, Executive Director, Belize Social Investment Fund

“We need to be very straight right. We follow the guidelines of the bank. And we have had some allegations on Facebook that it puts us in a situation that people have to have evidence of what they are saying. Of course, Fast is a company that bids. But it is not only Fast. We have other construction like LB Vega, CM Constructions, and several construction companies work with SIF. The CDB follows what we call a prior review method. The prior review requires CDB giving us the no objection. For every phase in the procurement plan and every phase in the evaluation, CDB needs to give us the no objection to continue with the other phase.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Just to circle back, you are saying yes Fast Construction has won a bid. How many bids have they won?”

 

Carlos Tun

“So far, Fast Construction has only won one bid under BNTF 10, the ITVET Hope Creek Stann Creek.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And in terms of any other bids for any other project under SIF, have they ever one any?”

 

Carlos Tun

“Well we are starting a new set of projects so there is a possibility they can get again. Again, we follow the guidelines of the bank.”

 

Tun explained that tenders are published in the local newspaper for all suitable businesses to access and apply.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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