(This column first appeared on Ralph Ramkarran’s blog www.conversationtree.gy)
It is no surprise that yet another objection by the government has now suddenly emerged to the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). After the AFC’s campaign and the Private Sector Commission’s public and forceful call, the government has been on a propaganda blitz. It has paraded its record of legislation, publicized the work of the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTB) and held a seminar for stakeholders. All this is to justify its resolve not to further advance the process of transparency in the face of continuing and credible allegations of corruption in procurement.
In 2000 the Constitution Reform Commission saw the need for a PPC, recommended it and in 2002 the National Assembly unanimously approved the amendment to the constitution to provide for it. The Constitutional Commission, which is subject to law, would have the same review function which the government well knows.
The Procurement Act was passed in 2003, ten years ago. Section 54 gives the right to cabinet to review and object to an award by the NPTB. This right comes to an end when the PPC is established. The opposition had objected to a