THE Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has successfully concluded a national training programme aimed at enhancing the capacity of consultants, suppliers and contractors to participate more effectively in Guyana’s public procurement system.
The training, which ended on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, brought together procurement stakeholders from across the country for a series of presentations and discussions focused on transparency, accountability and compliance within the public procurement sector.
Addressing participants, Chief Executive Officer of the PPC, Michael Singh, emphasised the importance of stakeholder education in building a procurement environment that is transparent, competitive and compliant with the law. He said the Commission remains committed to providing suppliers, contractors and consultants with the knowledge and practical tools needed to access procurement opportunities and contribute to national development.
The initiative forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national capacity and improve understanding of the principles, procedures and responsibilities that govern public procurement.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, urged participants to view public procurement as more than a commercial activity, describing it as a vital tool for national development.
She noted that every contract awarded and successfully executed contributes to the improvement of communities, the expansion of essential services and the overall quality of life of citizens. Teixeira also highlighted the constitutional role of the Public Procurement Commission and stressed the importance of maintaining public trust through integrity, transparency and accountability.
The minister encouraged contractors and suppliers to build businesses grounded in professionalism, reliability and quality service, noting that trust remains one of the most valuable assets in the procurement sector. She further called on stakeholders to recognise their role as partners in development and to take pride in the long-term impact of their work on communities across Guyana.
Teixeira also acknowledged the increasing participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, women entrepreneurs and emerging contractors in the country’s growing economy. She said expanding procurement opportunities have created new avenues for broader involvement in national development and underscored the need for stakeholders to be equipped with the skills and knowledge required to compete effectively.
The training programme featured presentations by PPC Attorney-at-Law Esther Osborne, Training Officer Antonio Yhan and Procurement Specialist Prakash Sookdeo. Sessions focused on key aspects of Guyana’s procurement framework, including legislative requirements, procurement procedures, administrative review mechanisms and best practices for securing and executing contracts.
Participants also engaged in interactive discussions on procurement governance, compliance requirements and practical challenges facing the sector. According to the Commission, the strong level of participation reflected a growing commitment among stakeholders to improving procurement standards and promoting greater transparency and accountability.
The PPC said that as Guyana continues to experience rapid economic growth and infrastructural expansion, it remains focused on fostering a procurement environment that is fair, equitable, competitive and transparent.
The Commission expressed appreciation to all participants for their contributions, noting that their engagement helped make the training programme a success and further advanced efforts to strengthen public procurement practices nationwide.