APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul on Thursday questioned Prime Minister Mark Phillips on how computers could be procured prior to the approval of the supplementary provision by the House.
This discussion came as the National Assembly resolved itself into the committee of supply to consider the supplementary provisions on financial papers three and four. The opposition raised questions as the House discussed the $13,502,580 request for the provision of additional resources to purchase some 61 computers for the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).
Opposition members inquired as to whether the previously voted provision of $41.5 million was exhausted along with how many systems were brought with same and what would be the procurement method to obtain the computers with the requested supplementary. To this end Prime Minister Phillips told the House that the provision has been used in its entirety and out of that sum, approximately $6.4 million was used to purchase 30 computers.
Giving further details, the Prime Minister stated that the NDMA has completed a lifecycle assessment and as such it led the agency to request more funds as he noted that many of the computers that were being used are no longer covered by warranties.
Phillips added that the procurement process has already started for the 61 computers and has reached the stage where there is an award, which was divided into three lots with two companies: NT Computeac and Digital Technology Guyana being the successful bidders.
It was then that opposition MP Mahipaul raised concerns and sought clarity as to whether the contract for procurement was already awarded even though the provision had not yet been approved. Phillips said that no contract had been issued but that the tender process has been concluded.
“… I would like to ask the honourable Prime Minister if he can provide some guidance as to why is it a process started when the monies have not been approved as yet,” Mahipaul queried. The PM contended that nothing wrong was done and that procurement laws are being followed. He said that it was the “intelligent anticipation of (a) future task” and as such he should not be criticized for using his initiative.
“Now suppose this House does not approve this sum of money, are we saying that we have wasted time going into a process, should we not have waited on the parliament giving the approval?” the opposition MP asked. Mahipaul added that though the PM indicated there was no contract, the fact that the tender process has started and award made indicates that there was already an allotted sum.
Despite the PPP/C government having a parliamentary majority, the Prime Minister stated that he did not at any time set out to make the House a “rubber stamp” and reiterated that it was just intelligent anticipation. He then said, “No contract was awarded.” This was, in response to Mahipaul’s question as to whether the PM was making the opposition and the National Assembly a “rubber stamp” by starting that procurement process without the necessary approval from the house.
Phillips further told the committee that the two companies that bid were awarded tenders in three lots with lot one being awarded to NT Computeac for the provision of 10 computers at $2,644,680 and lots two and three being awarded to Digital Technology Guyana for 11 computers at 2,429,900 (Lot 2) and 40 computers at $8,428,000 (lot 3). The sum was subsequently approved by the committee.
