{"id":23574,"date":"2022-08-18T22:23:29","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T03:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=23574"},"modified":"2022-08-18T17:57:49","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T22:57:49","slug":"rowley-disappointed-at-delays-in-procurement-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/rowley-disappointed-at-delays-in-procurement-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Rowley disappointed at delays in procurement law"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trinidad and Tobago<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he is anxious to have the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act proclaimed, and he expressed disappointment at the delay in the full implementation of the law.<\/p>\n

At a press conference yesterday, Rowley disagreed with the suggestion that the Government has an interest in not proclaiming the Act and is deliberately dragging its feet on the matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those who know what I\u2019ve been doing as Prime Minister and my view on this matter, they will tell you that nothing is further from the truth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cWhat has been happening is that everytime we attempt to proclaim these law elements, I should say interested parties and clients will point out pitfalls. And we come back to the Parliament and we adjust it. But there always seems to be some problem because this is a very far reaching piece of legislation, which could have serious consequences to the operations of the Government.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cSome people believe that it\u2019s a panacea for all things corrupt. I don\u2019t believe that. Many people don\u2019t believe that. As a matter of fact, it has the potential to assist in corruption if you want to be corrupt. But the bottom line is that you will have legislation to deal with the corrupt action in the event that it takes place. And upfront, it has operations that should direct the state operations and private sector operations with the state away from corrupt action,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said the \u201cvery last disappointment\u201d the legislation experienced was that just as the Government was about to proclaim it, it happened to have been the time when the new attorney general came into office \u201ccompletely separate and apart from this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the first assignments I gave that Attorney General was to ensure that we are in a position to have this piece of legislation proclaimed, because we have come to the point where we think we have dotted as many T\u2019s and crossed as many i\u2019s. Out of that has come some significant comments, which call for caution with respect to the proclamation of the act as it is. For me, that is disappointing, but it cannot be disregarded,\u201d Rowley said.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Four weeks ago, in a statement to Parliament, Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC said that more consultation needs to be done before the Act can be proclaimed based on communication he received from the Office of the Procurement Regulation (OPR) and the Judiciary.<\/p>\n

Dr Rowley said, as a result there will be a delay.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be irresponsible of me and the Government to disregard what has been identified by the Chief Justice and, of course, what is being also considered by the Office of the Regulator, notwithstanding how eager we are to have it proclaimed so that we can once and for all put this on the books.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cSo there\u2019s gonna be a little delay. But it is not because we want to delay it. It is because we want to respond to what has been identified as pitfalls with far reaching consequences. And as soon as the Attorney General is in a position to address those, he will inform the country and we will move with the reasonable haste to get it put on the books. That is where we are with procurement legislation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a piece of new legislation, which is very complex, which we could proclaim it as is, but to do so knowing that there will be these problems pointed out to us by the offices, especially the office of the Chief justice is to find ourselves at a later date being accused of being irresponsible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Rowley said he has been behind the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General to do the work to proclaim it, with \u201cthe legislation having been passed and amended and adjusted on numerous occasions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am anxious for this to be done, if only that it would not be said that the government is, in fact, benefiting from not having legislation like this in place. Some people believe that there is no procurement legislation. That is not true. There is procurement legislation. That is why you have a Central Tenders Board and other regulations in the Exchequer Act. What this legislation is, is new and expanded procurement legislation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

more\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Image: pexels-rodnae-productions<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he is anxious to have the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act proclaimed, and he expressed disappointment at the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":20289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[250],"tags":[153,73,71,125,137],"class_list":["post-23574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-legal","tag-legislation","tag-procurement","tag-public-procurement","tag-trinidad-and-tobago"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-rodnae-productions-7841812-scaled-e1648207457324.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-68e","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24136,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/pm-procurement-legislation-coming-soon\/","url_meta":{"origin":23574,"position":0},"title":"PM: Procurement Legislation coming soon","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"September 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago \u00a0 Despite the recent call by several stakeholders for the proclamation and implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says there is going to be \u201ca little delay\u201d in its execution. Speaking at a press conference on Monday\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-towfiqu-barbhuiya-8693379-scaled-e1663282901744.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-towfiqu-barbhuiya-8693379-scaled-e1663282901744.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-towfiqu-barbhuiya-8693379-scaled-e1663282901744.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pexels-towfiqu-barbhuiya-8693379-scaled-e1663282901744.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23562,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/disappointed-in-pms-procurement-stance\/","url_meta":{"origin":23574,"position":1},"title":"Disappointed in PM\u2019s procurement stance","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago The Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) is heartened that the prime minister has broken his long and loud silence on procurement legislation, as reported in Tuesday\u2019s Express. The JCC, and no doubt the rest of the public, is very confused, however, by Dr Rowley\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-mat-brown-1034065-scaled-e1660863127686.jpg?fit=1024%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-mat-brown-1034065-scaled-e1660863127686.jpg?fit=1024%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-mat-brown-1034065-scaled-e1660863127686.jpg?fit=1024%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-mat-brown-1034065-scaled-e1660863127686.jpg?fit=1024%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25615,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/procurement-bamboozle\/","url_meta":{"origin":23574,"position":2},"title":"Procurement bamboozle","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"December 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago After seven years of being fed one excuse after another, the public should now face the awful prospect that the Rowley administration has no intention of bringing the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act into effect any time soon, not even in the gutted form\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24588,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/still-no-procurement-reform\/","url_meta":{"origin":23574,"position":3},"title":"Still no procurement reform","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"October 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago The JCC was invited to attend the Spotlight on the Economy forum hosted by the Ministry of Finance on September 2. All present were informed that the 2022\/2023 budget was going to be read by the minister on September 26 and that the country could expect it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-pixabay-53621-scaled-e1665685096444.jpg?fit=1024%2C603&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-pixabay-53621-scaled-e1665685096444.jpg?fit=1024%2C603&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-pixabay-53621-scaled-e1665685096444.jpg?fit=1024%2C603&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-pixabay-53621-scaled-e1665685096444.jpg?fit=1024%2C603&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23838,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/procurement-boss-admits-hurdles-in-way-of-new-legislation\/","url_meta":{"origin":23574,"position":4},"title":"Procurement boss admits hurdles in way of new legislation","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"September 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago \u00a0 Chester Sambrano Procurement Regulation chairman Moonilal Lalchan says despite the readiness of his office for the full proclamation and implementation of the Parliament\u2013approved procurement legislation, there remain some hurdles to cross. Althoughs the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015 was assented to on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23836,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/plea-to-president-not-to-proclaim-procurement-act\/","url_meta":{"origin":23574,"position":5},"title":"Plea to President not to proclaim Procurement Act","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"September 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago \u00a0 A PLEA has gone out to President Paula-Mae Weekes not to act in haste and proclaim the Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Amendment Act (2020). \"We beg you not to act in haste or under pressure to proclaim this modified and weakened act,\" Gary Aboud,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Shelf-of-Legal-Books-freestocks.org-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1091"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23574"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23664,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23574\/revisions\/23664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}