{"id":35025,"date":"2024-07-04T23:24:43","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T04:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=35025"},"modified":"2024-07-03T19:14:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T00:14:50","slug":"pintard-condemns-blatant-disregard-for-procurement-laws-in-bpl-reform-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/pintard-condemns-blatant-disregard-for-procurement-laws-in-bpl-reform-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Pintard condemns \u201cblatant disregard\u201d for procurement laws in BPL reform process"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bahamas<\/p>\n

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard raised concerns yesterday regarding the Davis administration\u2019s energy reform exercise, arguing that while some elements underwent competitive bidding, other critical aspects blatantly disregarded procurement laws.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s (BPL) transmission and distribution network.<\/p>\n

Pintard was not satisfied that the process for choosing Pike was fair to all interested parties.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Pintard remarked in his budget debate contribution, arguing: \u201cThis would have guaranteed the best deal with the most qualified technical providers for the Bahamian people.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pintard suggested the government agreed to unfavorable terms, transferring over $100 million of BPL assets to Island Grid.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBPL 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,\u201d Coleby-Davis stated.<\/p>\n

Pintard contended: \u201cThe Davis administration should acknowledge this as privatization of BPL\u2019s transmission and distribution network.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn March, the Prime Minister pledged no privatization. Yet, months later, $100 million of sovereign assets shift from state to private control,\u201d Pintard asserted.<\/p>\n

He argued: \u201cTransferring 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\u2019s privatization is questionable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pintard also queried the government\u2019s removal of the tariff for the first 200 kWh of usage for BPL consumers. Given the utility\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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

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Image: Law-scrabble-tiles-<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Bahamas Opposition Leader Michael Pintard raised concerns yesterday regarding the Davis administration\u2019s energy reform exercise, arguing that while some elements underwent competitive bidding, other critical aspects blatantly disregarded procurement laws….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":3644,"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":[166,73,71,125],"class_list":["post-35025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-bahamas","tag-legislation","tag-procurement","tag-public-procurement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Law-scrabble-tiles-CQF-Avocat-Pexels-e1649276824460.jpeg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-96V","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35765,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/govt-must-be-transparent-on-spending\/","url_meta":{"origin":35025,"position":0},"title":"Govt \u2018must be transparent\u2019 on spending","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"August 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas THE government must be more transparent about its spending, said Opposition leader Michael Pintard yesterday, saying that the FNM will not support any \u201cadditional revenue measure\u201d until the Davis administration fully implements the Freedom of Information Act and abides by the Public Procurement Act. \u201cFirst, this Davis-led PLP administration\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\/08\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386473-e1723773568962.jpg?fit=1023%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386473-e1723773568962.jpg?fit=1023%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386473-e1723773568962.jpg?fit=1023%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386473-e1723773568962.jpg?fit=1023%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26649,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/no-stone-left-unturned-on-govt-accountability\/","url_meta":{"origin":35025,"position":1},"title":"No stone left unturned’ on Gov’t accountability","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"March 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas The Opposition's leader yesterday pledged to \"leave no stone unturned\" in holding the Government accountable while asserting that the Public Accounts Committee is now \"rolling\" into action. Michael Pintard, speaking after Cabinet ministers read out written answers to multiple questions posed by the Opposition during the House of Assembly\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\/03\/pexels-mikhail-nilov-8297031-scaled-e1677796822130.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-mikhail-nilov-8297031-scaled-e1677796822130.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-mikhail-nilov-8297031-scaled-e1677796822130.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/pexels-mikhail-nilov-8297031-scaled-e1677796822130.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24162,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/bahamas-newsdavis-says-govt-will-bring-procurement-law-amendments-after-break\/","url_meta":{"origin":35025,"position":2},"title":"Davis says Gov\u2019t Will Bring Procurement Law Amendments After Break","author":"Michele Marius","date":"September 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas \u00a0 After parliament returns from recess, amendments to the Public Procurement Act will be brought to the House of Assembly \u2013 that is the word from Bahamas\u2019 Prime Minister, Philip Davis. 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