Dear Editor,
I think a couple of good things came out of the Kares contract award (SN’s editorial of June 24, 2024). Public procurement is a measure of the kind of systems a country has; the kind of government that stands fierce guard over those precious dollars; and the kind of political leaders who don’t brook any nonsense. I admit that it is not Samuelson or Freedman or Summers. But for common sense, it can’t be overtaken.
A trusted public procurement mechanism, in all of its overarching limbs, generates strong confidence in those coming up short for less than upstanding reasons the grounds to lodge an objection. A formal complaint, it is called. The first good is that Correia and Correia manifested the wherewithal and will to pursue what I believe was an injustice, with a hand of protest raised. That takes courage in procurement Guyana, for there is the risk of unwritten and unspoken blacklisting. The reality in procurement Guyana is speak out and keep walking. Hence, the culture is to be cooperative (silence). In circumstances such as these, cooperative acquiescence is to collude in the commission of a crime and condone it. Correia and Correia did what the circumstances demanded. Correia and Correia delivered one hard kick at that mold, and it [tender award] doesn’t look so noble or innocent anymore. Good for them, and good for Guyana. May there be more complainers like that disgusted entity.
The second positive that emerged from the Kares award was that the watchdog Public Procurement Commission (PPC) found its feet, then its voice, and last, its backbone. I don’t care how forced that was, the PPC did what it was put there for, which was, brighten its eyesight, then bark. Bark it did, by pinpointing how the tender people and the evaluation experts erred. Good! Thanks, Mr. PPC, with the role of the ladies duly recognized, applauded. It would have been better if the PPC had taken the matter to its necessary end and bitten down deeply. Do something. Straighten up. Take some prisoners. Those evaluation committees and tender board decisions are either shoddy or just plain bad for legit business. Still, an inch here and a centimeter there in the public procurement arena are opportunities to rejoice. Though unoptimistic about the PPC, I will take what is given.
Last, leaders can talk about all that suits their schemes. About tightening. About laying down the law. About coming down hard on renegades. But they only rise majestically with the results of their words, as genuinely uttered and meant and implemented. The political bosses, who are an integral cog in these procurement mysteries, cannot speak boldly in public, then lie down behind the scenes and let procurement breaches die an unnatural death. If the whole tender board must be sent packing, then send it.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
