Procurement procedures at City Hall need investigating

Feb 26, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
When one looks at the spontaneous and passionate response by civil society to the parking imbroglio it shows clearly that all of Guyana wants to see transparency, accountability and more so a level playing field in the tendering process in place at the Georgetown Municipality, something that is severely lacking there. In fact, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown make a complete mockery of the Public Procurement Commission of Guyana, a body which has as its objective the reduction or prevention of corruption in procurement in Guyana.
The municipality completely ignores this commission and the guidelines it has set out as they purchase goods and services on behalf of the citizens. This is shameful! If the growing allegations regarding the parking meter initiative are to be believed, then it is logical to assume that corruption there is much more general and widespread in the awarding of cleaning contracts, in the procurement of other goods and services, all of which need to be urgently audited.
Article 212W of the Constitution provides that the purpose of the Commission is to monitor procurement and the procedures to ensure that the procurement of goods, services and the execution of works are conducted in a fair, equitable, transparent and cost effective manner. Its functions are widespread. They include monitoring and reviewing all procurement systems; procedures of ministerial, regional and national procurement entities and project execution units; monitor performance with respect to adherence of regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution or works; investigate complaints; investigate irregularities; initiate investigations and more. The Government should therefore intervene at the Georgetown City Council.
So why is the Georgetown Municipality – for which corruption is a major source of concern to all and sundry – not under the guidance of the Public Procurement Commission? It is baffling that with all the controversies that have arisen over the years at the Council that the Ministry of Communities would not want to get the issue of corruption out of the way at that entity
The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) consists of five members with experience of procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters that the Council does not have available to them but so badly needs; so why aren’t they using this resource for the benefit of the citizens?
Sambu Jacobus

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