Caribbean
IDB Group, IFAD collaborate to assist Latin America, Caribbean
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) receny signed a memorandum of understanding to better support rural and indigenous people in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in the Amazon region, by working together to implement joint initiatives that aim to reduce poverty, improve food and nutrition security, and adaptation to climate change.
The planned activities include technical assistance, project development and financing, better procurement and financial management, the use of innovative technologies, private sector engagement in smallholder agriculture, staff exchanges, shared technical expertise, joint research, and knowledge generation.
The memorandum of understanding between the two institutions was signed by IDB President Ilan Goldfajn and IFAD President, Alvaro Lario.
The IDB Group and IFAD will explore future collaboration opportunities in several areas, including water management, physical and digital connectivity, empowering smallholder farmers through initiatives spanning insurance, social protection, nutrition, and health, fostering agricultural adaptation in the Andean region, and advancing conservation efforts in the Amazon region.
The ongoing partnership between the IDB Group and IFAD has led to several initiatives. Since 2018, the two institutions worked on joint projects in Brazil, Ecuador, and Haiti, on topics that range from fostering innovation to reducing rural poverty.
Most recently, AgroWeb3 was launched in 2023 making blockchain technologies accessible to smallholder farmers, protecting their information and data as well as ensuring financial and social inclusion. It uses technology developed by the LACChain global network led by IDB Lab.
IFAD President Lario stated:
“We expect to scale this initiative around the world to bring the advantages of the technological revolution to remote communities and vulnerable groups.”
“This cooperation between the IDB Group and IFAD will help bring some of the latest advancements and expertise in agriculture to the rural and indigenous communities specially in the Amazon – that need it most, and is part of our efforts to combat poverty and inequality, and promote more sustainable, climate-friendly development,” said IDB President Goldfajn.
(SOURCE: Inter-American Devolpment Bank- IDB)
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Guyana
Bidders are asked to provide qualifications requirements that include business registration or incorporation documents, valid Guyana Revenue Authority and National Insurance Scheme Compliance certificates, value-added tax (VAT) registration certificates for domestic parties, experience, technical ability, and financial capacity. Bidding is scheduled to begin for three projects on Sept. 26.
Guyana’s public utility company (GPL) has opened a tender for three utility-scale PV and battery storage projects with total power and storage capacities of 15 MWp and 22 MWh, respectively.
The Guyanese government has earned financing under the Guyana-Norway Partnership and intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments under the contracts for engineering, procurement, and construction of the projects, known collectively as the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL).
The financing for the project will be administered in accordance with the policies of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), according to information posted by the IDB.
GPL is now inviting sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for engineering, procurement, and construction of the three utility-scale, ground-mounted PV plants and battery storage systems.
Bidding will be conducted through the International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures specified in the IDB’s Policies for the Procurement of Goods and Works. The tender is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the Policies. Bidders are asked to provide qualifications requirements that include business registration or incorporation documents, valid Guyana Revenue Authority and National Insurance Scheme Compliance certificates, VAT registration certificates (for domestic parties), experience, technical and financial capacity.
A pre-bid meeting and site visit will be held on Aug. 5 and 6.
Interested parties can purchase a complete set of bidding documents in English from GPL for a non-refundable fee of GYD 20,000 ($95.84).
Bids must be made before Sept. 26, the day opening of bids commences. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security of $250,000 or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.
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Bahamas
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard raised concerns yesterday regarding the Davis administration’s energy reform exercise, arguing that while some elements underwent competitive bidding, other critical aspects blatantly disregarded procurement laws.
Energy and Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis informed Parliament during her budget debate contribution on Wednesday that the government has contracted Pike Corporation via its Bahamian management firm Island Grid Solutions for a 25-year upgrade and management of Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) transmission and distribution network.
Pintard was not satisfied that the process for choosing Pike was fair to all interested parties.
“The government is on the verge of committing to a 25-year obligation involving significant state assets crucial to our public infrastructure. Given the magnitude of this endeavor, the government should have ensured an open and transparent competitive bidding process, irrespective of legal obligations,” Pintard remarked in his budget debate contribution, arguing: “This would have guaranteed the best deal with the most qualified technical providers for the Bahamian people.”
He added: “The absence of competitive bidding raises concerns. Laws exist to ensure the best outcome for Bahamians. Furthermore, reports on business and political affiliations of certain individuals involved in the BPL privatization exercise are troubling. Open bidding helps prevent insider manipulation, safeguarding against unfair advantages.”
Pintard suggested the government agreed to unfavorable terms, transferring over $100 million of BPL assets to Island Grid.
Coleby-Davis disclosed that under a joint venture partnership, the government will own 40 percent of Bahamas Grid Company, with Island Grid Solutions holding 60 percent.
“BPL will contribute its New Providence transmission and distribution assets valued at $100 million, for 40 percent of the shares in the SPV, while Island Grid, as the T&D manager, will raise $130 million from private investors for 60 percent of shares,” Coleby-Davis stated.
Pintard contended: “The Davis administration should acknowledge this as privatization of BPL’s transmission and distribution network.”
“In March, the Prime Minister pledged no privatization. Yet, months later, $100 million of sovereign assets shift from state to private control,” Pintard asserted.
He argued: “Transferring state-owned assets to a private majority-owned entity constitutes privatization. Until state control is restored, this remains privatization. At least $100 million of BPL assets have been privatized. The honesty of the Prime Minister and his team in denying BPL’s privatization is questionable.”
Pintard also queried the government’s removal of the tariff for the first 200 kWh of usage for BPL consumers. Given the utility’s financial strain, he noted the loss of nearly $3 million per month. Also, with increased rates affecting primarily small businesses, he raised concerns about its impact on business costs.
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Belize
Тоdау, thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе, thrоugh thе Міnіѕtrу оf Есоnоmіс Dеvеlорmеnt, ѕіgnеd а соntrасt wіth thе Unіvеrѕіtу оf Веlіzе tо dеvеlор аnd іmрlеmеnt а соmрrеhеnѕіvе Рublіс Fіnаnсіаl Маnаgеmеnt (РFМ) Тrаіnіng Рrоgrаm. Ѕіgnіng thе соntrасt wеrе Мr. Саrlоѕ Роl, Асtіng Сhіеf Ехесutіvе Оffісеr оf thе Міnіѕtrу оf Есоnоmіс Dеvеlорmеnt, аnd Dr. Vіnсеnt Раlасіо, Рrеѕіdеnt оf thе Unіvеrѕіtу оf Веlіzе.
Тhіѕ trаіnіng іnіtіаtіvе іѕ dеѕіgnеd tо еnhаnсе thе ехреrtіѕе аnd рrоfісіеnсу оf еmрlоуееѕ rеѕроnѕіblе fоr РFМ ореrаtіоnѕ. Іt wіll соvеr еѕѕеntіаl РFМ аrеаѕ tо еnѕurе thаt ѕtаff аrе nоt оnlу knоwlеdgеаblе аbоut thе thеоrеtісаl аѕресtѕ оf рublіс fіnаnсіаl mаnаgеmеnt but аrе аlѕо аdерt аt аррlуіng thіѕ knоwlеdgе іn thеіr dаіlу tаѕkѕ. Ву іmрrоvіng thе ѕkіllѕ оf thеѕе kеу реrѕоnnеl, thе gоvеrnmеnt аntісіраtеѕ mоrе еffісіеnt аnd еffесtіvе mаnаgеmеnt оf рublіс fundѕ, аlіgnіng wіth brоаdеr gоаlѕ оf fіѕсаl ѕtаbіlіtу аnd іmрrоvеd рublіс ѕеrvісе dеlіvеrу./
Тhе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе іѕ undеrtаkіng ѕіgnіfісаnt fіѕсаl rеfоrmѕ tо асhіеvе budgеtаrу ѕuѕtаіnаbіlіtу, wіth сruсіаl ѕuрроrt frоm thе Іntеr-Аmеrісаn Dеvеlорmеnt Ваnk (ІDВ). Тhе іnіtіаtіvе, оutlіnеd іn thе ІDВ Lоаn Рrороѕаl 2021, аіmѕ tо rесtіfу іnеffісіеnсіеѕ іn рublіс ѕреndіng аnd сrеаtе ѕubѕtаntіаl fіѕсаl ѕрасе. Аѕ раrt оf thіѕ еffоrt, Веlіzе hаѕ ѕесurеd tесhnісаl аnd fіnаnсіаl аѕѕіѕtаnсе frоm thе ІDВ tо mоdеrnіzе іtѕ РFМ. Тhіѕ ВZ$2,341,012 рrојесt fосuѕеѕ оn еnhаnсіng fіnаnсіаl ѕuѕtаіnаbіlіtу bу іmрrоvіng rеѕоurсе еffісіеnсу іn fіnаnсіаl mаnаgеmеnt, рrосurеmеnt, tесhnісаl іnfrаѕtruсturе, аnd сарасіtу buіldіng, thеrеbу ѕtrеngthеnіng thе Веlіzе Рublіс Ѕеrvісе.
Ореrаtіng undеr а сеntrаlіzеd рublіс ѕеrvісе mоdеl, thе Міnіѕtrу оf thе Рublіс Ѕеrvісе, Соnѕtіtutіоnаl аnd Роlіtісаl Rеfоrm, аnd Rеlіgіоuѕ Аffаіrѕ оvеrѕееѕ humаn rеѕоurсеѕ аnd trаіnіng. Ноwеvеr, thе аbѕеnсе оf tаrgеtеd trаіnіng рrоgrаmѕ fоr РFМ hаѕ роѕеd а ѕіgnіfісаnt сhаllеngе tо mоdеrnіzаtіоn еffоrtѕ. Тhе Міnіѕtrу оf Есоnоmіс Dеvеlорmеnt, thrоugh іtѕ Ѕtrеngthеnіng Рublіс Ехреndіturе Маnаgеmеnt (ЅРЕМ) іn Веlіzе Рrојесt, іn соllаbоrаtіоn wіth thе Тrаіnіng аnd Dеvеlорmеnt Unіt оf thе Міnіѕtrу оf Рublіс Ѕеrvісе, соntrасtеd thе Unіvеrѕіtу оf Веlіzе tо аddrеѕѕ thіѕ gар.
Іn раrtnеrіng wіth thе Unіvеrѕіtу оf Веlіzе, thе gоvеrnmеnt іѕ еnhаnсіng thе ѕkіllѕ оf рublіс оffісеrѕ іn thе РFМ ѕесtоr whіlе ѕіmultаnеоuѕlу bооѕtіng thе сарасіtу оf thе nаtіоnаl unіvеrѕіtу іn fіnаnсіаl mаnаgеmеnt. Тhіѕ соllаbоrаtіоn еnѕurеѕ thе ѕuѕtаіnаblе mоdеrnіzаtіоn оf Веlіzе’ѕ fіnаnсіаl mаnаgеmеnt ѕуѕtеmѕ, еmроwеrіng еmрlоуееѕ tо соmреtеntlу аnd соnfіdеntlу nаvіgаtе thе еvоlvіng РFМ lаndѕсаре, wіth оngоіng ассеѕѕ tо соurѕеѕ аt thе Unіvеrѕіtу оf Веlіzе.
Тhе Міnіѕtrіеѕ оf Есоnоmіс Dеvеlорmеnt аnd thе Рublіс Ѕеrvісе, Соnѕtіtutіоnаl Rеfоrm аnd Rеlіgіоuѕ Аffаіrѕ, оn bеhаlf оf thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе, ехрrеѕѕ thеіr grаtіtudе tо thе unіvеrѕіtу fоr іtѕ соntіnuеd раrtnеrѕhір аnd lооk fоrwаrd tо а ѕuссеѕѕful іnіtіаtіvе.
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Saint Lucia
SAINT LUCIA IS NOT YET SIGNATORY TO THE CARICOM PERMANENT JOINT COUNCIL ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (PJCPP).
The CARICOM Permanent Joint Council on Public Procurement (PJCPP) convened its second meeting in Saint Lucia to advance discussions on the protocol governing public procurement in the CSME. While Saint Lucia has not yet signed the protocol, it participated as an observer during the meeting, signaling its interest and commitment to the deliberations.
Saint Lucia played host to a pivotal meeting of the CARICOM Permanent Joint Council on Public Procurement (PJCPP) on April 18 to 19, 2024, held at the Finance Administrative Centre in Pointe Seraphine, Castries.
Titus Preville, Director of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit, highlighted the significance of the gathering, noting that the PJCPP would focus on adopting its rules of procedure. Additionally, the meeting aimed to approve proposals encompassing rules, guidelines, norms, and standards outlined in the protocol for administering public procurement. Furthermore, the PJCPP intended to scrutinize its work programme for the period spanning 2024 to 2026, along with proposals for integrating E-Procurement into the Community Public Procurement Notice Board.
“At the moment seven member states Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname have signed the protocol on public procurement and the declaration to provisionally apply the protocol since it was approved by the Conference of Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2019. Of the seven Barbados and Belize have moved to ratify the protocol. In keeping therefore with article 36 of the protocol, once at least 5 member states have signed the protocol and the declaration to provisionally apply the protocol, the protocol is determined to be provisionally applied among these parties. As a consequence of that provisional application of the protocol, under article 30 of the protocol the permanent joint council can be established.”
Francis Fontenelle, Permanent Secretary in the Department of Finance, acknowledged that while Saint Lucia has not yet signed the protocol, the country has made significant strides in modernizing its procurement reform processes. He noted that Saint Lucia has introduced a new Public Procurement Act and accompanying regulations, as well as standardized tender documents to streamline compliance. Additionally, an E-Procurement Platform has been implemented to enhance accessibility, record-keeping, and reporting, aligning with parallel efforts within the CSME.
“We are very grateful that we are afforded observer status to the functioning of the Permanent Joint Council. This affords us insight into the direction in which the concept of regionally integrated public procurement is headed. We wish to recognize the contributions made by the CARICOM Secretariat and by the CSME Unit to the development of public procurement in the region.”
The Permanent Joint Council, consisting of Senior Trade and Public Procurement Specialists from member states, is tasked with implementing the provisions outlined in the community protocol on public procurement. This council holds the responsibility for overseeing the execution of the protocol’s mandates and regularly reports to the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on the protocol’s performance.
“Now is the time for the remaining CARICOM, CSME Member States to sign the protocol and be part of the design of the framework of what will govern the parties to the protocol in the future,” said Preville.
“We will continue to pursue some internal steps to ensure that the policies are sufficiently understood and accepted prior to assimilation into our policy framework. In essence, we want all concerned parties to be comfortable that this is acceptable to us and that it is not being adopted solely to meet an external requirement,” Fontenelle said.
Under the 11th European Development Fund, the European Union persists in its support for the enhancement of public procurement within the CSME, bolstering the Framework for CARICOM Integration and Cooperation Processes Programme. The recent hybrid meeting held in Saint Lucia marked the second gathering of the Permanent Joint Council on Public Procurement, signaling continued efforts towards strengthening collaboration and progress in this critical area.
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