The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has extended the deadline for nominations to the Public Procurement Committee (PPC).
Political parties, organisations and members of the public now have until 2pm on February 14th to submit the names of nominees, according to a Parliament Office advertisement appearing in today’s edition of Stabroek News.
The initial deadline was January 20th but the ad explains that it has been extended in the light of the work schedule of the PAC and requests for additional information.
“…The PAC hereby invites stakeholders, political parties, civil organizations as well as individuals, who have an interest in the establishment and proper working of the Public Procurement Commission to submit the names of persons eligible to be considered as Commissioners,” the advertisement reads.
Article 212 of the constitution mandates that the five members of the PPC are to be nominated by the PAC, approved by no less than two-thirds of the National Assembly, and then appointed by the President. Initially, the Peoples Progressive Party civic (PPP/C), the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Party for National Unity (APNU) were the entities with the responsibility for sending nominees to the PAC, but a sub-committee of the body decided to open the process to a wider cross-section of stakeholders.
The process has been stalled for more than a decade because the PPP/C has refused to name its nominees – the AFC and APNU have already names their nominees. The PPP/C is also seeking to be allowed to retain its no-objection powers when the PPC comes into existence as a condition for naming its nominees.
As a means to move the process along somewhat, the PAC decided to open up nominations to more stakeholders.
Though the names submitted last month have not been disclosed, the AFC had announced that it had nominated Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram and former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran. Both of these persons have been opposed by the PPP/C. Stabroek News understands that Mayor Hamilton Green has also been nominated to the PPC.
