Guyana
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday announced that the government will soon introduce a dedicated online procurement platform aimed at improving transparency, accessibility, and efficiency in the awarding of state contracts. Speaking at his weekly press conference, Jagdeo said the digital system, which is expected to go live next year, will serve as a central hub where all government tenders and contract opportunities will be advertised. “Look out for that, we’re already working on it,” the Vice President told reporters, explaining that the move was part of the administration’s wider effort to modernize the public procurement process and cut costs to the state. Currently, government tenders are mainly advertised in newspapers, a practice Jagdeo described as costly and limited in reach. He revealed that in 2024, the government spent approximately $800 million on public advertisements.
“If we have a procurement site, now, once the advertisement goes up there, people can visit that site for the duration of the tender period,” he said. “You will be able to see what opportunities are available. People won’t have to buy newspapers; they can check their phones and view procurement opportunities across Guyana.”
According to Jagdeo, the government also plans to amend existing legislation to support the shift toward digital procurement and will expand the use of online media platforms to publish tender notices.
He clarified, however, that traditional newspaper advertisements will not be completely discontinued, but spending will be reduced while ensuring the public continues to have access to procurement information.
Meanwhile, the Vice President added that the administration was also working to make the system more inclusive by creating greater opportunities for small contractors to participate in state projects, while at the same time improving standards and accountability.
“This is all part of building a procurement system that is fair, transparent, and accountable to the people,” Jagdeo said.
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