The procurement system needs complete overhauling

Oct 08, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
I have noted the views expressed recently by KN and other commentators on the matter of procurements in the public sphere. Somehow, I can understand the points you have all been trying to make. For me the situation is much more complex than you all have been able to explain.
Many years ago while I served in the capacity of vice chair of the Building Forum, I attended a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the then proposed Procurement Bill with Mr Jagdeo. At that meeting he informed us that he was not going to change ‘one iota’ of what had been written. During a break in the meeting I excused myself from the proceedings since I felt it was a complete waste of my time.
To my mind what Jagdeo was setting up was a procurement cartel where only the favoured would be able to access business. Today some of the players have changed but the form and structure still remain. The same 12 contractors that get regular work are still in place even though many of them have their ‘craws’ filled and over-brimming. This government will not effect change to the status quo since they would stand to lose valuable gratuities. I have a recent case which will illustrate some of what I am now mentioning.
Last Tuesday I tendered for a consultancy through the NPTAB. There were only three bidders. One bid was not fully responsive since they did not have the requisite compliances. The other bid only produced an original response and not the two extra copies as was required. Our bid complied with all the requirements. Now the work is scheduled to commence on October 7, 2016 as per instructions. This week, I visited the Ministry of Finance and attempted to ask pertinent questions of the officer who has been looking after this matter. His blunt response to me was ‘I don’t have time to answer anything about the job, it is being evaluated’.
Many jobs have been given to those who are not compliant with the requirements. Others are given to those who have no real capacity to perform since they are more than fully occupied elsewhere in the system. This is the real reason that the school project at Kato failed. The consultants no doubt had their hands horribly tied. We are only going to come out of this mess when the government takes a serious look at the situation and dispassionately moves to make things right. Threatening contractors will not cut it. The faults lie with the system. I have spoken at a procurement symposium and I have sent pertinent information to the relevant authorities to assist them in making positive and beneficial changes. These improvements may never fructify since the nature of man is not to change the direction and speed of the gravy train.
Cyril Walker

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