PPP/C committed to establishing procurement commission – Ali

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) said government remains open to discussing with the opposition, the setting up of the Public Procurement Commission, but noted the president’s offers must be satisfied to ensure the process begins.
This is, according to PPP/C executive member and Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, who was at the time responding to questions posed by the media, as it relates to the party’s position on the said matter. Ali said that while the opposition is concerned about the establishment of the commission, it must take into account President Donald Ramotar’s position on the matter. He said the party by itself has given its support to ensuring that the commission is established, but “the ball is now in the Office of the President’s court” and it is the body to decide on the way forward on this key issue. According to him, the president has invited the opposition and his door is always open.
Minister Ali said that the concerns of the president are many, given the current situation in Parliament. He referred to when the government held a majority in the National Assembly, stating that chairmanship of almost all of the standing committees in Parliament was rotated between the government and the opposition.
Opposition has been bullying its way
Ali argued that the opposition has been bullying its way into managing almost everything, in Parliament and outside of that, creating chaos about things that will help to bring about change. He said the opposition continues to display “double standards”; however, the PPP/C remains committed to ensuring that the procurement commission is set up as soon as possible, with the support of the opposition.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) said recently that it will not agree to have the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act amended, if the government does not move fast enough to have the procurement commission set up. President Ramotar had said that he was not pleased with some of the names submitted by the opposition for the commission and had requested a review. This is specifically to reduce any chances of the nominees being involved in a conflict of interest.
While government has an open policy toward tenders and contracts that are public, in that anyone could access them, there are cases where there is subversion of the process that has to be rooted out. Ramotar said that is one of the main reasons he wants to see the procurement commission set up and has promised to work towards rooting out corruption in all of its forms. The Procurement Act of Guyana stipulates the role of the commission, but the establishment of the commission has been in discussion for almost 10 years.