– insists that it must retain oversight role
Government has confirmed that it will be moving soon to table an amendment to the Procurement Act to allow the administration to retain its “no objection” power over contracts. And it is banking on the main opposition party A Partnership for National Unity to get this done, asserting that it sees no need why the coalition would not support the amendment.
The move will certainly irk the opposition that has been clamouring for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) to be set up according to the act, removing government’s oversight.
Effective commission
Government’s chief spokesman, Dr Roger Luncheon made this disclosure on Wednesday during his post-Cabinet press briefing, stating that it will be done to the benefit of all stakeholders involved. He said there was no reason to believe and to expect that APNU’s support for Cabinet’s role in the procurement process would not be forthcoming.
“It is in that context that we intend to soon table an appropriately-worded amendment to the procurement act. We undertook to identify government’s nominees for parliamentary consideration to sit on the public procurement commission subsequent to the enactment of the amendment,” he said.
The government’s spokesman said while there was no indication as to when the administration hoped to move ahead with the amendment for the procurement act, it could be very soon.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been calling on government to comply with constitutional requirements which stipulate that there should be a PPC.
The party, in its quest to secure an effective commission, has decided to withhold its support for amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act until such time that the commission is established. On Wednesday, the AFC maintained that it was absolutely convinced that, owing to the absence of the procurement commission for the past decade, money laundering has reigned supreme in “our financial landscape.” The party said launderers have had a field day, and they continue to make hay while the sun shines.
Strict legislation
The AFC added that while anti-money laundering measures are needed, passing the bill without having the procurement commission in place would be akin to locking the barn door while the fattest pig was still out in the yard.
“In direct and indirect ways, the absence of the PPC has resulted in why so much substandard infrastructure work has been done regionally and nationally, why public servants and workers generally cannot have better wages and salaries, and why a sultanate of extremely rich persons has been created.”
The party alluded to a speech in the National Assembly of the Ninth Parliament by President Donald Ramotar, then a member of parliament, who had said the delay in appointing the commission was due to the People’s National Congress/Reform’s insistence on unanimity.
Not a priority
“Now that Mr Ramotar has become president, it is his government that is blocking the setting up of the commission and has even gone further to say that the appointment of the Public Procurement Commission is not a priority,” the AFC contended. “It is for this reason that the AFC sees support for even a more perfected AML [anti-money laundering] Bill as depending on the setting up and running of the PPC.
“So whilst this approach may see some businessmen shedding a tear or two in explaining their transactions, our workers and the poor for over 10 years now have been crying blood in a riotously corrupt procurement landscape.
“The AFC will maintain its position that Guyanese are entitled to and must have both the Public Procurement Commission and anti-money laundering legislation. One is not enough.”
