{"id":31536,"date":"2023-12-07T23:55:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T04:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=31536"},"modified":"2023-12-07T18:54:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T23:54:57","slug":"dealing-with-corruption-must-not-be-compromised-as-we-address-procurement-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/dealing-with-corruption-must-not-be-compromised-as-we-address-procurement-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with corruption must not be compromised as we address procurement issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jamaica<\/p>\n

Various estimates suggest that Jamaica loses five per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to corruption annually.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As we understand it, that equates to approximately US$800 million. Shortcomings in health, education, security, et al, which such funds could address are aplenty.<\/p>\n

Corruption in high places has plagued Jamaica for a long time and the public perception is that it is getting worse.<\/p>\n

Hence the recent lament by Mr Mikael Phillips, Opposition Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western, that people view every politician as a \u201cthief\u201d.<\/p>\n

That perception and reality explain tangled procurement procedures which have long triggered the ire of political representatives across party lines. They complain of their efforts to get projects done frustrated too frequently.<\/p>\n

Frustration, even anger, with the procurement bureaucracy appears to have reached a new high in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

The perfectly logical push for transparency and accountability is backfiring because of inordinate delays, with projects which should be reasonably lasting a year or less taking years in some cases, legislators say.<\/p>\n

The process is one thing, but in typically mild-mannered fashion, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton points a finger at those who execute.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 I\u2019m not prepared to blame just the process as the cause of the length of time, because I do believe that sometimes there isn\u2019t sufficient capacity at the level of those who are managing \u2026 This means that mistakes can be made at times, or clarity is required because of uncertainties and that slows down the process even further,\u201d Dr Tufton said.<\/p>\n

Fear of failure may be part of the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had civil servants come to me and are literally super-cautious\u2026 because that fear of reputational damage is greater than the need to solve the problem \u2026,\u201d said Dr Tufton.<\/p>\n

All of which means efficient governance is undermined.<\/p>\n

Says Dr Tufton: \u201cWhat you have, as I have interpreted it, is a system that allows political cycles, under the constitution, to be five years and a procurement process could take up to two and a half years\u2026 To me, it really compromises or undermines the capacity of any Administration in power \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, such inefficiency increases public distrust and disaffection with governance\u00a0\u2014<\/strong>\u00a0to such an extent that many people turn away. As we keep saying, it\u2019s not accidental that only 38 per cent of Jamaicans eligible to vote did so in parliamentary elections three years ago.<\/p>\n

Note the words of Government MP for Trelawny Northern, Ms Tova Hamilton regarding procurement inefficiencies: \u201cThis affects my stewardship as MP because when I indicate to constituents that projects will be undertaken and significant time elapses with no implementation it creates a trust deficit and a whole lot of doubt, owing in large part to their decades-old experiences of false promises\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s to be done? Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke speaks of a redoubling of efforts to train public servants in the use of the Procurement Act. He has also spoken of a review of the Act and a \u201cfew amendments\u201d to make the system more efficient.<\/p>\n

Whatever is done there needs to be balance, since corruption and the threat thereof are as real as ever.<\/p>\n

We dare not throw out the baby with the bath water.<\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Image: Corruption-money (flickr)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jamaica Various estimates suggest that Jamaica loses five per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to corruption annually. As we understand it, that equates to approximately US$800 million. Shortcomings in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":26459,"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":[157,124,71],"class_list":["post-31536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-anti-corruption","tag-jamaica","tag-procurement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Corruption-money-fraudMarco-Verch-Professional-Photographer-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-8cE","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36954,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/senior-bangor-university-law-lecturer-calls-for-more-sustainable-procurement-practices\/","url_meta":{"origin":31536,"position":0},"title":"Senior Bangor University law lecturer calls for more sustainable procurement practices","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"November 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Jamaica ST JAMES, Jamaica \u2014 Senior law lecturer at Bangor University in Wales, Dr Ama Eyo, is calling for more sustainable procurement practices that shun corruption, bribery and collusion. According to Dr Eyo, research shows that an estimated 10 to\u00a020 per cent of the entire money spent on public procurement\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\/2024\/11\/pexels-fauxels-3184328-scaled-e1731337056955.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pexels-fauxels-3184328-scaled-e1731337056955.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pexels-fauxels-3184328-scaled-e1731337056955.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pexels-fauxels-3184328-scaled-e1731337056955.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30702,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/technology-jamaicas-beacon-for-a-transparent-tomorrow\/","url_meta":{"origin":31536,"position":1},"title":"Technology: Jamaica’s beacon for a transparent tomorrow","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"October 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Jamaica In this age of rapid technological advancement, where digital solutions permeate every corner of our lives, a bright beacon emerges in the battle against a tenacious adversary: corruption. The virtues of technology \u2014 transparency, traceability, and resistance to tampering \u2014 offer potent tools to curtail spaces that have long\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\/2023\/10\/pexels-dan-cristian-paduret-1476321-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pexels-dan-cristian-paduret-1476321-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pexels-dan-cristian-paduret-1476321-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pexels-dan-cristian-paduret-1476321-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pexels-dan-cristian-paduret-1476321-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13206,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/one-year-too-long-pm-laments-tedious-delays-in-procurement-practices\/","url_meta":{"origin":31536,"position":2},"title":"One Year Too Long – PM Laments Tedious Delays In Procurement Practices","author":"Michele Marius","date":"July 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Prime Minister Andrew Holness wants forward planning for procurement in place to lessen the time spent engaging the gears of bureaucracy. Holness was speaking on Thursday at the commissioning of a $33-million, 110-ft-long bridge spanning the Wag Water River and which links Airy Castle, Bowden Hill, and Stony Hill in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Hourglass-Clock-Schedule-Minutes-Money-Glass-Old-fernando-zhiminaicela-Pixabay-jpg.jpg?fit=1024%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Hourglass-Clock-Schedule-Minutes-Money-Glass-Old-fernando-zhiminaicela-Pixabay-jpg.jpg?fit=1024%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Hourglass-Clock-Schedule-Minutes-Money-Glass-Old-fernando-zhiminaicela-Pixabay-jpg.jpg?fit=1024%2C638&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Hourglass-Clock-Schedule-Minutes-Money-Glass-Old-fernando-zhiminaicela-Pixabay-jpg.jpg?fit=1024%2C638&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34551,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/govt-of-jamaica-procurement-awards-to-be-established\/","url_meta":{"origin":31536,"position":3},"title":"Gov\u2019t of Jamaica Procurement Awards to Be Established","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"June 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Jamaica The Government of Jamaica (GOJ), through the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, is looking to establish the GOJ Procurement Awards. This initiative aims to celebrate excellence and innovation in the public procurement system across various entities, according to Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. He was\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\/2024\/06\/pexels-n-voitkevich-6120403-scaled-e1717722439707.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-n-voitkevich-6120403-scaled-e1717722439707.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-n-voitkevich-6120403-scaled-e1717722439707.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-n-voitkevich-6120403-scaled-e1717722439707.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24596,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/chasing-procurement-perfection\/","url_meta":{"origin":31536,"position":4},"title":"Chasing procurement perfection","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"October 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago Harvard Business \u00adReview (April 2019) warned that perfectionism is a double-edged sword that can either motivate you to deliver high-quality work or cause you much anxiety and slow you down. Are we witnessing this play out with the many iterations of the procurement legislation saga, or is\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\/2019\/08\/Transparency-magnifying-glass-files-HonestReporting-flickr-e1565992586412.jpg?fit=620%2C348&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Transparency-magnifying-glass-files-HonestReporting-flickr-e1565992586412.jpg?fit=620%2C348&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Transparency-magnifying-glass-files-HonestReporting-flickr-e1565992586412.jpg?fit=620%2C348&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31536","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=31536"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31541,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31536\/revisions\/31541"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}