Bahamas
GRAND Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey launched the “new and improved” e-Procurement platform by the Ministry of Finance yesterday, which officials say levels the playing field for businesses.
“Grand Bahama business owners have access to opportunities to bid on relevant government contracts, to provide goods and services to government and quasi-government agencies, located anywhere in The Bahamas,” she said.
She said that the system GoBonfire is a game changer.
“This new portal is in alignment with the Davis/Cooper administration’s vision for the digital transformation of the government’s procurement platform, which is linked to our commitment to enhance the ease of doing business in The Bahamas for local and foreign investors,” she said.
She encouraged businesses to register, adding that the registration process for vendors is fast and easy and takes only five minutes.
She said businesses registered on the portal can view the full list of tender opportunities that are available and electronically submit a bid for procurement.
“This new and improved eProcurement portal has made the procurement process fairer, more accessible, more transparent, and more competitive,” Ms Moxey said.
“These opportunities are no longer limited to businesses on New Providence; Grand Bahama has the opportunity to participate.”
Ralph Hepburn, first vice president of Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, commended the government on the launch of the new platform.
He told vendors that the e-Procurement and supplies and registry system keeps them “abreast of all the things that are coming down the pipeline.”
Janice Miller, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, said the electronic platform brings clarity and efficiency.
She said government officials cannot prevent any vendor from participating in procurement activities.
“As a registered vendor, it is your decision to select opportunities that are in the sphere of your expertise and reject those that are not,” she said.
Ms Miller told vendors that the opening of vendors’ proposals or activities will be executed virtually.
“You know how you submitted tenders before in the past and have to go during opening in person to make sure your bid was received and recorded, that is not necessary anymore. “You can proceed virtually with this e-procurement system,” she explained.
“It is worth noting that while Bonfire is the electronic medium that connects government agencies and vendors and all stakeholders in execution of all procurement exercises, be mindful of the human element that is intrinsically involved in processing,” she said.
She said registration is free to vendors.
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Suriname
October 21, 2022, Bridgetown, Barbados – A new project financed by the European Union (EU) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is set to provide 60 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Suriname with skills and strategies that will strengthen their export capabilities for entry to new regional markets.
The 22-month initiative, titled “Marketing and Branding of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in CARICOM”, is supported through the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building. The EUR394,622 project includes a 25% contribution from the Government of Suriname.
During the official project launch on October 20, 2022 in Paramaribo, representatives from CDB, EU and the Government of Suriname, provided details on how the initiative will help participating firms to close gaps in export opportunities through targeted assistance.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Daniel Best, Director of CDB’s Projects Department, expressed the Bank’s interest in and support for the project, “We are commencing this exciting initiative knowing that it will lead to a strengthening of the trading power of 60 MSMEs operating in Suriname. The. project’s investment and technical expertise will empower this cadre of beneficiaries to overcome challenges faced in promoting their products and services across CARIFORUM Member States.”
Enterprises will receive support in market research and brand development; skills development in branding, marketing, and communication; and capacity development in export readiness. They will also gain an increased understanding of export prospects. The project will also sensitise entrepreneurs, particularly women, youth and those in rural communities, to opportunities in three selected markets: Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
By optimising intraregional trade as a mechanism for increasing integration and attracting new market opportunities, project partners are hopeful the opportunity will serve as a springboard for Suriname MSMEs to gain experience in and awareness of exporting requirements so they can eventually access global markets.
Project beneficiary Mr. Wensley Perea, Director of Amea Cashew & Pineapple Industries N.V. also attended the launch and shared his gratitude by stating, “This project is very important for Surinamese MSMEs as we lack capacity to export. This project is something that we value. We look forward to the support to help us enter regional and international markets.”
Featured speaker, the Honourable Rishma Kuldipsingh, Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation, commended project partners and beneficiaries by adding, “I congratulate you all on this milestone and wish the team success in executing this project. The Government of Suriname is grateful for our partnership with the EU and CDB through the EPA and CSME Standby Facility for Capacity Building. By working together, we will achieve desired growth and development for MSMEs so they can significantly contribute and add value to our national and regional economies.”
“This project will build economic resilience through private sector development and growth of MSMEs in Suriname. It will also enhance business support organisations and develop their capacity to provide strategic advice on marketing, branding and export development approaches within the region,” explained Mr. Joan Nadal Sastre, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, for Suriname and with responsibility for Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.
The CARIFORUM-EU EPA and CSME Standby Facility for Capacity Building, which is financing the project, is a EUR 8.75 million resource that offers opportunities to 15 Caribbean economies to grow trade, deepen integration and economic involvement, impact competitiveness, market access and exports by implementing targeted projects in thematic areas. The project is one of 25 Standby Facility initiatives currently being implemented across the region.
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Bahamas
The Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG) executives say that timely passage and enactment of the revised public procurement law can be a major step forward for economic inclusion and greater effectiveness and efficiency in government spending.
ORG yesterday expressed its support for the Public Procurement Bill 2022 which was tabled earlier this month while outlining just over two dozen recommendations to the legislation.
ORG in a statement said that it supports the passage and full enactment of procurement legislation while noting that the legislation increases access to procurement opportunities for local micro, small, and midsize businesses.
“Offering a list of 25 recommendations, ORG observes that the Public Procurement Bill 2022 contains some new terms, descriptions, and language. ORG has compared the current bill to the Public Procurement Act of 2021 against well-established examples of best practices, such as guidance from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) for public procurement; regional and relevant examples of legislation from other countries such as Jamaica, the United Kingdom, and Australia; and at the bill and regulations’ local implications. Based on its findings, ORG has created a document of reviews and recommendations to strengthen the act for consideration by parliamentarians, the private sector, civil society, and the general public,” ORG said.
“ORG particularly notes that the timeline for publishing awarded contracts in the 2022 bill remains at 60 days, as was specified in the 2021 act. However, changes in terminology in the bill may allow some awarded contracts to remain unpublished. It is unclear what has prevented the government from adhering to the reporting of awarded contracts thus far, and it is essential to begin immediate adherence to this mandated requirement in the interest of the awareness and trust of the public and private sectors,” the organization said.
ORG said that it has identified 14 potential opportunities to strengthen accountability, inclusion, and accessibility in the bill.
“These include changes to the appointment, composition, and financing of the Procurement Board for greater independence and representation. In addition, greater accountability and consistency can result through the reduction of the categories of procurement contracts listed in the bill. For example, audit, actuarial, accounting, legal, and financial consultancies that are excluded from the law. Another significant opportunity to ensure the law is favorable to small businesses is the restoration of a dedicated Procurement Review Tribunal as a more accessible mechanism to resolve concerns about awarded procurement contracts. Additionally, the restoration of the capacity for surcharges to be applied to those not adhering to the appropriate procurement processes ensures that the legislation has the proper protocol for enforcement.”
Matthew Aubry, ORG’s Executive Director, underscored the importance of achieving a strong, transparent, and accountable Public Procurement Act for The Bahamas.
“The timely passage, enactment, and adherence to this law can be a major step forward for economic inclusion and greater effectiveness and efficiency in government spending,” he said.
Tayte Adderley, ORG’s Engagement Programme Manager, added: “Transparency in Government procurement can help to build fundamental trust and confidence among the public by letting citizens know what their tax dollars are being spent on and whether it is being used wisely and for their benefit.”
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Jamaica
This article was originally posted on the author’s blog with the support of Climate Tracker’s Caribbean Energy Transition Journalism Fellowship, and an edited version is republished here with permission.
The majority of Jamaica’s energy has traditionally come from imported coal, petroleum and oil products. Combustible renewables and waste — used to form the cheaper, environmentally-friendly alternative, bio-gas — account for a meagre percentage of the country’s energy supply, while hydro, solar and wind power represent less than 11 percent.
The fact that these products are imported impacts both the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the cost of electricity for consumers, many of whom are from low-income-earning households. According to Global Petrol Prices, as of March 2022, Jamaica’s electricity charges are the sixth highest (out of 148 countries) worldwide.
In early October, some of the world’s most powerful oil producers agreed to impose massive output cuts, reducing production by two million barrels per day in order to shore up falling oil prices — a major setback as the world struggles to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
So how is “the land of wood and water” progressing with regard to switching from primarily non-renewable electricity, and what is being done to ensure Jamaica is on track with its ambitious target of increasing its renewable energy penetration (solar, wind and hydro) to 30 percent by 2030?
Despite having a tropical climate that enjoys the presence of northeast trade winds, Jamaica only has two wind farms, both underperforming, as they only provide electricity to a few surrounding communities. As of 2020, Jamaica’s use of renewables accounted for approximately 11 percent of its energy: 6.5 percent wind, 3.5 percent hydropower, and 1 percent solar power.
According to opposition spokesperson Phillip Paulwell, who is Jamaica’s shadow minister on energy, the last public procurement for renewables was done in 2014, when the current renewable-related projects were established. While there has been progress in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, the footprint for renewables was only increased by 15 percent, way short of the government’s objective. He called on the government to speed up procurement measures and publish a plan for the future of renewables as, although a feasibility study was done in 2015 for a World Bank-funded hydropower project, there has been no clear progress since.
This is not to say that there have not been other worthwhile initiatives. In 2018, 80 percent of the island’s streetlights were switched to light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) announced an initiative to provide low-income, off-grid communities with solar PV kits. The project goal was to provide up to 2,000 households in these communities with renewably generated electricity, but since its piloting, the initiative has not been used optimally.
Meanwhile, Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns, who is the Shadow Minister on Land, Environment and Climate Change, says not enough is being done to advance water harvesting and capitalise on other resources, like solar. She believes there need to be more alternatives to increase electricity provision and facilitate access to solar power by all Jamaicans, adding that removal of taxes on the initiative would be a great incentive.
Young people have, in many ways, been leading the charge towards environmental awareness and energy sustainability in Jamaica. Eleanor Terrelonge, president of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council (JCCYC), has suggested that more competition in the area of power supply would help reduce costs to customers. Jamaica’s electricity provider currently enjoys a monopoly. Terrelonge believes that unless the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is forced to reduce costs, nothing will be done. She also finds that while Jamaica is attempting to diversify energy resources, it appears to be on an impromptu or project basis, instead of on a national level.
However, JPS, which is the only hydroelectricity plant operator in the country and the facilitator of two plants, has downplayed its role in Jamaica’s efforts to realise its renewable energy goal of 30 percent by 2030. Its corporate communications officer, Audrey Williams, reinforced that this responsibility lies with the Government Procurement Entity (GPE), which takes the lead on the procurement of new electricity generation capacity. She added that the JPS will support the GPE’s efforts and work with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is a road map to sustain and enable Jamaica’s electricity future.
In 2018, JPS constructed a 24MW hybrid energy storage facility, which has allowed the company to better manage the effects of fluctuating renewables and, over the past five years, has also invested USD 80 million in capital projects in order to manage costs and make the grid more resilient and efficient. Another challenge, however, is that some electric utilities have the benefit of government subsidies while others are not “fully integrated,” meaning they do not operate generation, as well as transmission and distribution services.
Williams said that if customers wish to switch to renewables, behaviour change is critical to make the savings secure. The concept of load shifting — transferring all energy-intensive activities to the daytime when energy is being generated — is one of the critical steps customers should take. Energy-efficient appliances and other methods of energy conservation can also make a big difference.
Another possibility is to encourage more users to generate their own electricity using renewable methods, attach it to the JPS grid and sell it.
Jamaica is undoubtedly progressing towards its goal of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and heavy oil energy consumption, but the pace is slower than many would like. The call is, therefore, for the government to implement more mitigation strategies and use more of our tropical renewable resources, and for consumers to be encouraged to be more energy efficient and switch to renewables.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology announced that it is engaged in the process of developing the second iteration of Jamaica’s IRP, which outlines plans for electricity price reduction and is due to be completed by the end of 2022.
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British Virgin Island
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a grant of $350,000 to help BVI and other Eastern Caribbean countries address the airlift capacity issues which are affecting tourism in the region.
The money was approved for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as emergency assistance.
According to a press release from the OECS, the funds will be used to “finance the cost of the consultancy service and to assist with interim arrangements for the re-establishment of regular air transport services within the sub-region.”
The CDB said the procurement process has already been completed and that the aviation consultancy will begin soon.
A technical working group comprising members from the OECS member states will also form part of the process to help guide the work of the consultant.
Tourism in OECS countries is affected yearly by a shortage of airlift. Most of the countries are unable to accommodate larger aircrafts at their airports and usually rely on the yachting industry to make up for the decrease in airlift .
Recently, the USVI was named the fastest growing Caribbean destination — a title the territory attributed to increased airlift.
In recent years, the BVI has been taking steps to develop airports in the territory in an effort to increase airlift to its islands.
In 2020, the Andrew Fahie-led administration had announced plans to expand the Terrance B Lettsome Airport at a cost of $158 million. The expansion was expected to permit tourists and investors to fly nonstop to the BVI from major cities such as New York, Toronto and London.
The completion of the improvements was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
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