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Opposition wants seat on procurement board
Kaieteur News- Opposition Members of Parliament (MP)s Ganesh Mahipaul and Christopher Jones are seeking an amendment to the Procurement Act to include members in the work of the National Procurement Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
Opposition Parliamentarian, Ganesh Mahipaul
The MPs requested the amendment by way of a Motion submitted to the National Assembly last Thursday. The document which was submitted by Mahipaul and seconded by Jones states that the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) was established under the Procurement Act of 2003 as the central body responsible for overseeing public procurement, ensuring that all government contracts are awarded in a transparent, competitive, and fair manner.
The document outlines too that the Procurement Act of 2003 was to regulate the public procurement process, ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency in the spending of public funds. According to the Motion, the functions of the NPTAB includes the development and implementation of policies for public procurement, approval of tender procedures, the evaluation of tenders, and monitoring procurement activities, all of which are essential in promoting good governance and preventing venality in the procurement process.
The Procurement Act of 2003 has played a significant role in regulating public procurement, contributing to the sound management of state resources, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government spending. As such, it pointed out that the democratic values of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity are critical for the development of a thriving and responsive democracy, particularly as Guyana continues to evolve as a developing nation.
Opposition MP, Christopher Jones
To this end, the Motion stressed that it is essential to ensure that all segments of the society, including the parliamentary opposition, are able to contribute to and oversee the procurement process, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and strengthening the overall trust of the public in the government’s actions;
As a result, the Motion highlights the need for the participation of the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition in the NPTAB to provide an additional layer of scrutiny, enhancing the transparency and accountability of the procurement system and ensuring that the views of the opposition are considered in decisions that affect public spending and procurement policies.
The Motion states “Be it resolved, that the Procurement Act of 2003 be amended to include, as part of the membership of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), one member nominated by the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. This would serve to ensure a more balanced representation in the NPTAB, fostering greater accountability and contributing to the continued strengthening of Guyana’s democratic processes.” As a result, it called on the Government of Guyana to initiate the necessary legislative amendments to the Procurement Act of 2003, thereby aligning the NPTAB’s structure with the democratic principle of broader participation in governance, particularly in the vital area of public procurement.
(Opposition wants seat on procurement board)
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