Magazine: Sakartvelos Respublika

Respondent: Tamaz Shilakadze

Chairman of the Society of Road Builders of Georgia, honored engineer of Georgia, Professor, Academician of International Transport Academy

I, Tamaz Shilakadze, as the Chairman of Society of Road Builders of Georgia, would like to express my opinion and inform the society some facts of awkward matter recently spread groundlessly about the activity of “Serpantini” LLC.

I have witnessed a lot during 60 years of working period in road field and would like to admit frankly that several construction Divisions were operating in the Ministry of Roads before adopting the principals of market economics; among them was Bridge Construction-Repairing Division (MPCY-9) in Kakheti region.  Respective Division was managed by high rank specialists of the field:  Aleksi Sekhniashvili, Alexander Saginashvili, Hamlet Sakhiashvili, but before privatization, within the previous decade it was governed by Givi Zedelashvili, under whose supremacy many roads and bridges or structures were constructed in Kakheti region.

It was leading organization not only for the Ministry of Roads, but it also supported to the officials of Telavi and the whole region in construction of infrastructural projects.  Herewith, mentioned Division was frequently invited to be involved in construction of big-scaled projects throughout the republic such as Tbilisi-Airport road, Rikoti Pass, roads of Abkhazian Autonomous Republic and other.

After adoption of the market economic principals, respective Division fell into the privatization list. Organization currently named as “Serpantini” LLC was purchased by ex-employees. Most of the shares were owned by Mr. Givi Zedelashvili. After his decease successor of shares became his wife.

Earlier Bridge Construction-Repairing Division and current “Serpantini” LLC owned strong technical facilities, borrow pits of construction materials, two asphalt-concrete plants, site for producing reinforced-concrete structures and etc. Dynasties of workers are employed here. I am astonished not only by groundless accusations but by the fact as to how this company could lose seven tenders out of eleven tenders especially in Kakheti region.

State Procurement Agency adopted electronic procurement system thus absolutely excludes possibility of so called “collusion“. Worthy competitors often fail to win due to irrelevant lower prices offered by others. Mentioned issue definitely requires analyzing and improving.

Recruitment - replacement of new staff frequently took place at Roads Department within the recent years. Tender committee traditionally was chaired by one of the Deputy Chairman. Today Mr. Ioseb Kadagishvili assumes this obligation, who fulfills assigned tasks with seriousness and full responsibility.

It is a pity that a yang man, principal of the field, is affronted based on false information.