JUNIOR Finance Minister, Juan Edghill, on Wednesday night in the National Assembly, called on his colleagues on the other side of the House to be a “responsible Opposition” and support the allocations that are good, criticise others to make it better and refrain from “dashing” the hope of the Guyanese people.

On that note, he underscored the importance Government places on accountability and transparency, particularly in the area of public procurement and made clear that the Government supports the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).
“This Government wants the PPC,” Edghill stressed. However, he noted the current Administration’s position in maintaining its no-objection role, a sore point with the Opposition.
He added that in 2013 some 3,800 contracts were processed by the Tender Board and of these 466 were above the $15m mark, which has to come to Cabinet for a no-objection.
Only five were not given Cabinet’s nod and 24 bidders complained at regional levels – issues that were subsequently addressed administratively and clarified.
“The bids (are) open and transparent…this is no secret thing,” the Junior Finance Minister said.
He acknowledged the need to strengthen the public procurement system, amid heckles of “cronyism” and the existence of “cabals” within the process.

CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
“We are working towards a more aggressive system,” Edghill said, adding that the responsibility is on contractors to possess the requisite technical, human and engineering resources, as well as equipment to undertake the jobs for which they bid.
According to him, the Government is making greater advances to work within a framework where the contractor delivers value for money for the benefit of the Guyanese people.
“We will continue to work with contractors,” he said, “They are partners in Guyana’s development.”
The Junior Finance Minister said, sternly, that delinquent contractors will be dealt with accordingly. However, in acknowledging the current Administration’s responsibility in ensuring value for money, Edghill reiterated the necessity for Cabinet to maintain its no-objection role in the public procurement process.
The Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2013 was read a first time in the National Assembly last November and aims to amend the 2003 principal Procurement Act by making changes to Section 54 by deleting Subsection Six, effectively restoring Cabinet’s no-objection role.
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, in the interest of decentralising 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.”
In addition to Government’s move to secure its position, moves have been made at the level of the Public Accounts Committee to address the establishment of the PPC.
Without the Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2013, once the PPC is established Cabinet’s no-objection role will no longer be effective.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, at a sitting of the National Assembly, made it clear that the Procurement (Amendment) Bill has to come before the Public Procurement Commission is set up.
The PPC cannot be set up without a two-thirds majority support in the National Assembly.
“This is more than just might is right…this is about facing the people of Guyana,” the Junior Minister emphasized.
He called on the Opposition to acknowledge that they owe it to the Guyanese people to do what is right.
“We are here as legislators, as representatives of the people, as the people who have to ultimately decide on the way Guyana will go,” Edghill asserted.

(By Vanessa Narine)