THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, over the weekend, invited nominations for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in an advertisement.And General Secretary of the ruling party, Clement Rohee, on Monday told members of the media that the party has possible names for the nomination.

Speaking at a press conference at Freedom House, he said, “The PPP is never barren of ideas in any area…we have names.”
He added that he is not in a position to disclose the names.
Under article 212 of the Constitution, the PPC shall comprise five members who shall have “expertise and experience in procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters”. The president shall appoint the members after they have been nominated by the PAC and approved by not less than two-thirds of the National Assembly.
“…the PAC hereby invites stakeholders, political parties, civil organisations 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 ad said.
It added that the PAC wishes that the Commission would reflect, as far as is possible, the social, gender and political make-up of the country.
The ad read, “The nominees should first and foremost be competent to carry out the required duties. The usual considerations regarding the need to be of good repute, without criminal records and no history of bankruptcy, apply.”
All submissions have to be sent to the Clerk of the Committee, Public Accounts of Committee, Committees Division, Parliament Office, Public Buildings, Brickdam, Georgetown.
A deadline of Monday, January 20, 2014, has been set.
The establishment of the PPC, according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, at the last sitting of the National Assembly, made it clear that the Procurement (Amendment) Bill has to come before the Commission is set up.
Members of Parliament, at that sitting, deferred the second reading of the Procurement (Amendment) Bill to a date within the next six months, following a motion moved by Government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira – a motion moved after six hours of debate.
The Bill is an act to amend the 2003 principal Procurement Act by making changes to section 54 deleting subsection six.
Section 54 deals with Cabinet’s involvement in reviewing the award of procurement contracts and the phasing out of its functions with the establishment of a Public Procurement Commission (PPC), in the interest of de-centralising the procurement process.
Subsection six states that: “Cabinet’s involvement shall cease upon the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, except in relation to those matters referred to in subsection one which are pending.”
The Opposition’s arguments are based on the fact that the PPC’s establishment negates the need for Cabinet’s role.
Considering the calls for amendments to the Procurement (Amendment) Bill, the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, maintains that the government’s position, grounded in legislative principles, was not “disputed, disagreed with, debunked or disproven” bythe joint-Opposition.
He stressed that the crux of the government’s argument is the fact that the Cabinet is “clothed” with the responsibility to be accountable to the National Assembly for public spending; and to be held accountable, the Cabinet must have a role in the procurement process.
Singh stated in maintaining Cabinet’s role in the process, the Bill makes no case for increased involvement and does not diminish the functions of the PPC, as was argued.
He also noted that similar jurisdictions have similar, and in many cases, greater powers vested in their Cabinets.
Parliament’s next sitting, where the future of the Bill can come up again, is scheduled for January 16.
Written By Vanessa Narine