THE newly appointed members of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) will meet with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday to iron out administrative issues, according to the PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali. During that meeting it is expected that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Commission will be elected to head the five member body which includes Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Sukrishnalall Pasha, Ivor Burnette English and Dr Nanda Gopaul.
English is the former Head of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD); Pasha served as chairman of the Small Business Council; Corbin was Programme Manager at Caricom Secretariat; Gopaul served as the Minister of Labour and Dodson is an experienced attorney–at-law.
In an interview with Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Surkrishnalall confirmed that the meeting is set for Thursday. He said too that during the meeting at Public Buildings, it is likely that the location of the secretariat will be disclosed.
The meeting will be held close to one week after President David Granger swore in the Commissioners at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Article 212W of the Constitution of Guyana speaks to the establishment of the PPC aimed at monitoring public procurement and the procedure in order to ensure that the procurement of goods, services and execution of works are conducted in a fair, equitable, transparent competitive and cost-effective manner, according to the law and policy guidelines, as determined by the National Assembly. The Commission is an independent body which must consist of five members who are experienced and have the expertise in procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters.
The aforesaid members were appointed by President Granger following nominations made by the Public Accounts Committee and approved by at least two-thirds of the elected members of the National Assembly.
The operationalisation of the PPC will effectively end Cabinet’s role in the award of multi-million dollar contracts. The amended Constitution which paved the way for the PPC some 14 years ago, allows for the dismantling of the Bid Protest Committee and reducing the responsibilities of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.