Chairman of Marathon Insurance Brokers (MIB), Richard Burgher, is demanding answers from the Government as to why Petrojam turned down a tender offer by to provide insurance services for its workers, but awarded the contract to a competitor even though MBI's proposal was $420 million cheaper.
“I am not saying I won this tender, but I am saying I could provide it for $400 million less over the two years than they have paid the incumbent broker and that is public funds. It requires an explanation and it looks and smells and walks like corruption,” charged Burgher, who said he was perplexed by the developments.
Burgher told The Gleaner yesterday that the situation became even more curious after Petrojam allegedly disregarded a directive from then Contractor General Dirk Harrison not to award the contract pending an investigation.
However, a well-placed Government source has indicated that, after voiding the tender process involving MBI, Petrojam had to make provision for insurance services to its workers and, as a consequence, the contract of the existing insurance provider was extended.
The Gleaner obtained a letter written by Ronique Budram-Ford, head of Procurement Unit at Petrojam, to Keisha Burgher of Marathon Insurance Brokers, dated June 29, 2017. Titled “Re: Provision of Insurance Broking Service – Petrojam Limited 2017 – 2020. The letter stated: ‘We wish to thank you for your detailed proposal in response to Petrojam’s request regarding the captioned tender. However, we have decided to annul the exercise.”
Budram-Ford further said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and hope that you will maintain interest in our business”.
Burgher argued that a tender is guided by certain processes, noting that “once you put out a tender and it is evaluated by the actuary and a recommendation goes to the board (of Petrojam). That recommendation is also copied to the Ministry of Finance Procurement Division. You must now have reason not to act on the actuary’s recommendation and one way you can do it is to annul or cancel the tender which is what they did.”
1Rebel plan on getting Londoners fit by launching the first-ever moving spinning studio on a London bus.
The bus travels on the most popular commuter routes across the capitals, finishing up at the St Mary Axe 1Rebel studio, where riders can pop in for a shower and a smoothie before work. The idea, which has been developed by James Balfour and Giles Dean, co-founders of 1Rebel - a fitness club popular with celebrities including Mel B, Ellie Goulding, Jess Glynne, David Gandy, Millie Mackintosh. James commented: "It is an absolute no-brainer for us that we can create more efficiency in people's routines by transforming their commute.
"For those who want the components of a class, but perhaps don't have the time to commit during the day, this provides a great solution for them to maximise time they would otherwise be spending just travelling to work."
'The Sex Factor' reality TV show aims to find budding porn stars. A new reality TV show is being devised to give participants the chance of winning a porn contract, under the guidance of their famous mentors.
Kieran Lee, dubbed the Simon Cowell of the sex industry, has launched a show, which searches to find the next big thing - in porn, according to The Mirror newspaper.
The 32-year-old British porn star from Derby, has starred in more than 1,000 X-rated films in Los Angeles, California and even had his penis insured in 2012 for $1 million (PS645,000) with, Lloyd's of London. Lee said: "I joined The Sex Factor because I wanted to give something back to the industry and find the next star."
'The Sex Factor' show will see eight men and eight women - all 'porn virgins' - battle it out to become the best performer and win $1m (PS690,000) and a three-year porn contract. Joining Lee on the judging panel are porn stars Asa Akira, Remy LaCroix, Tori Black and Lexi Belle.
A man has freaked out his first-time date after delivering her favourite things to her home address.
Lindsay Jones went on a lunch date with a man she met online but, after just one date, he tried to swoon her and sent a lavish Tesco home delivery of her favourite foods.
The 33-year-old mum-of-one, didn't want a second date with the unnamed suitor from London but, two days after they met, he sent her a home delivery from the supermarket.
Lindsay said: "I met the man for lunch last week and it was perfectly fine but I didn't really want to go ahead with a second date. I hadn't yet responded to his request to go out for dinner, so I was a bit shocked when a Tesco delivery driver walked up the driveway holding a crate of food."
But it wasn't essentials like bread and milk that had been ordered. Among the items delivered to the Cardiff home was fillet steak, mussels, Hendricks gin, tonic water and a box of chocolates - all of which she had mentioned on her date as her 'perfect last meal'.
Meerkats Aleksandr and Sergei race through the streets of Los Angeles in a limited-edition comic book commissioned by comparethemarket.com.
The financial website's lovable mascots have been given an animated makeover by famed creators DC Comics, who drafted in the legendary illustrator Neal Adams to draw them.
DC regular Tony Bedard is responsible for some of the most iconic runs of classic titles starring Batman, Green Lantern, and Superman and penned the first addition, titled A Heroic Journey.
The first story in the series is available to download now from comparethemarket.com, with part two available from May 27.
For development and maintenance of reverence of God (taqwa) in our post-Ramadan life sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
Be strict on holding your lower (nafsani) desires. Make a firm determination. Do not yield to these sinful desires easily. These desires and Satan are our two arch enemies.
The mind is constantly occupied with thoughts. There is no gap or vacuum in this process. These thoughts are either of worldly matters or useless issues or sinful activities. It is essential to intervene and develop a spiritually healthy though pattern. We have to actively think about hereafter, heavens, thankfulness of Allah for the innumerable bounties and blessings bestowed upon us, asking refuge for anticipated calamities, repenting from sinful activities, etc.
This is the most effective way to achieve the change of thought pattern. It leads to absorption, assimilation and implementation of the Divine teachings in our life. Without the company of the the pious the Deen remains limited to superficial level.
Set up a daily routine of making remembrance of Allah. There are three categories of remembrance of Allah. First is that it is done with the tongue without presence of mind. Second is when tongue is silent and there is mindfulness. Finally, when both tongue and mind are making the remembrance together. Do not under evaluate even the first category. It is a stepping stone for the rest of the categories. Moreover, with consistency it eventually engulfs the mind also.
Make a daily time table for this. The daily activities done in an organised method creates barakah in time. More things are done in the same period of time. Include in it these four things, recitation of Holy Quran atleast two pages daily, durood, third kalima and istegfar. Fix a specific time for them. In other times recite whatever form of remembrance comes to mind.
The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is a form of energy and power. It assists in development of determination to fight the lower desires.
Set a specific time for this. Like prior to sleeping, after esha. For few minutes sit and supplicate.
Say, ‘O Allah I want to follow the path You are pleased with. I want to control my thoughts, aspirations and desires as per Your desires. You have repeatedly instructed us in the Holy Quran to do so. How can I do it? I am weak. My determination and effort are feeble. Provide from Your benevolence and mercy the determination, power and motivation so I can control my desires and make them totally subservient to Your commands.’
Make this supplication daily without any gap. It is impossible that Allah will reject this supplication indeed.