Press Release October 29, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
StopWar.ca demands that company bidding on RAV project withdraw from bullet consortium
StopWar.ca, the Lower Mainland’s broad-based anti-war coalition, is demanding that the RAV Project Management Ltd. (RAVCO) Evaluation Committee require SNC-Lavalin Inc. to withdraw from a multinational consortium that has been set up to supply bullets for the U.S. war effort in Iraq. According to StopWar spokesperson Chris Spannos, “If they refuse to withdraw, they should be disqualified from bidding on the RAV project.”
SNC-Lavalin Inc. is a participant in a multinational consortium led by General Dynamics that is bidding on a contract to produce from 300 million to 500 million bullets per year for a period of at least five years.
According to the Financial Times, U.S. occupation forces in Iraq need an additional source of bullets. The single factory that currently produces small caliber ammunition for the occupation is owned by the U.S. army. It does not have the capacity to meet the demand. As a result, the U.S. military is scrambling to get private contractors to fill the gap. The provision of additional bullets is essential for the U.S. occupation to
continue.
Vancouver City Council had passed a motion opposing the U.S. invasion of Iraq. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called the invasion illegal. Commenting on SNC-Lavalin Inc. s role in the bullet consortium and the RAV bid, Vancouver City Councilor Tim Louis stated, I think it is completely unacceptable that any government money be paid to this criminal corporation.” (The RAV line will be funded by the federal and provincial governments.)
The Evaluation Committee appointed by the RAVCO Board has begun its review of the “best and final offers” (BAFO) proposals and is due to announce the winner of the RAV contract in mid November.
In order to qualify for the RAV contract, SNC-Lavalin must be required to withdraw from this proposed consortium, says Spannos. Failing to withdraw from the consortium should be the basis for disqualifying them from the RAV bidding process, he concluded.
Media Contact:
Chris Spannos
Phone: 604.215.8494
E-mail: [email protected]
ZNetwork is funded solely through the generosity of its readers.
Donate