Cousin Prince, I couldn't help but wonder; what are the specs for the Institute????? For an institute of Technology, if you do not hire an engineer/architect to prepare specs and solicit RFP's from Construction firms, you can be looking at quotes from 40 million to 1 billion dalasis. Most of the money can go to diamond-plated faucets and marble columns if you don't specify Kohler plumbware and stucco. Of course you can hire me to review this idiot's bid and I ain't cheap. But for you, $10,000.00 will be enough. Alternatively, my firm can develop the specs and drawings for you for $20,000.00 If you demonstrate that you are either not serious or well prepared to request construction bids, Nigerians will take you for a ride. Please don't tell me the bidder is not Nigerian. Haruna. -----Original Message----- From: Prince Bubacarr Sankanu <[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Fri, Jul 29, 2011 1:35 pm Subject: [G_L] Help! Price Discrimination! Oh, I am busy but I cannot help let my steam out for a second. Please if you know of good SME Gambian or Gambia-related construction engineers/companies kindly connect them to me. I need more offers. I was shocked this morning when one of the local Gambian construction companies (name withheld) I approached dropped me a quotation of 100,000,000.00 Gambian Dalasis for the turn-key contruction of the campus of Alikuning Society's impending Tuwaxura Institute of Technology in URR. Yes ONE HUNDRED MILLION GAMBIAN DALASIS! This is almost 2.4 or better say 2.5 Million Euros (3.4 Million US Dollars) depending on exchange rate fluctuations! I asked the guy who prepared the quotation as if he was DRUNK, he said no. He said I am "SARAHULEH, money is not the problem. Spending it is the problem"!!!!! Unbelievable! I told him to send me a realistic one if they want a deal. My goodness, I have been ignoring such price discriminations (Sarahule "poty mew", etc) for long now. I would not call it "price tribalism" as I experience it in other places too. Whenever I travel across Africa and people realize that I am from Germany or my business card has "FILM PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR" on it, they charge me more!!! There are of course cases too where I get envious special VIP care, discounts and free services for what is on the business card - from fans, admirers and others who want to encourage me to carry on. So it is double-edged sword. At least this contruction guy told me that apart from the Government, Development Banks and consortia of investors, they do not handle such volumes from private individuals. But they can fleece me because am Serehulleh? Before putting that money on concrete I will prefer to get a license for a Bank or Mobile Phone company which is like a license to print your own money! Better still I continue to fund good Nigerian and African films. One of my uncles who owns a hotel along the Independence Drive in Banjul said I should give it to the CHINESE. They will build the campus faster and cheaper and it will not cost more that FORTY (40) MILLION DALASIS (1.4 Million USD/951 thousand Euros). I want to support local capacity this is why I am favouring local contractors (SMEs - Small Medium Scaled Entreprises) but if they want to be unrealistic, then the Chinese will win. The BOARD OF DIRECTORS of Alikuning Society will recommend the best submitted offer during one of our relevant meetings though. Please connect me to local SME construction companies you know. I tried to google for one BARROW CONTRUCTION I once read about but I do not have the time filter out the search results so I need some non-binding recommended links or phone contacts. Thanks in advance. I will send them the list of facilites we need on the campus ground. No discriminatory Serehulleh pricing, please! I am not a religious and I have no treasure chambers within Allah's World Bank like Babili Mansa. Thanks and enjoy your weekend. Warmest, ***** HSH Prince Bubacarr A. Sankanu Chairman and Chief Executive Producer RSPS - THE ROYAL SANKANURA PRINCIPALITY STUDIOS/ AFROMEDIA FILM & TELEVISION INTERNATIONAL GROUP B.S.e.K. Deliverers of Highest Quality Programmes from Africa Postfach 800144 D-51001 Cologne, Germany Tel.: 00491774842957 (Cell) Fax: 004922146780440 Emails: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] Skype: princebasankanu Tax/VAT ID: 218/5030/2061 Company No: HRA 25199 Amtsgericht Köln. Local Court of Cologne City, Germany -- HSH Prince Bubacarr A. 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