Procurement Regulator satisfied with progress after law proclaimed
Trinidad and Tobago
Procurement Regulator Beverly Khan says she is “fairly satisfied” with the efforts being made to ensure the compliance of contractors and suppliers to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Property Act, which was fully proclaimed back in April.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media on how operations have been going, Khan said barring minor issues affecting the efficiency of operations, she was neither daunted nor distracted by the process so far.
“In hindsight, we should have placed a bit more attention and effort prior to proclamation to the testing of the systems and requirements that were intended to be introduced, but nevertheless, progress is being made and I am confident that over the next three to six months, there will be accelerated action.”
The act was assented to by the President in January 2015 under the then People’s Partnership government.
However, it was not proclaimed into law then.
Upon assuming office, the People’s National Movement made three amendments to the act between 2016 and 2020.
But it was still not proclaimed into law over the course of the administration’s seven-plus years in office.
The act speaks to securing value of taxpayers’ money in terms of expenditure, accountability, integrity and transparency. It also encourages development of local contractors and local content and seeks sustainable development and procurement.
Khan explained that since full proclamation of the act, the Office of Procurement Regulation has observed a concerted effort on the part of contractors and suppliers dealing with public bodies to achieve compliance.
“From establishing the institutional capacity and naming procurement officers, which is a requirement of each public body, to instituting codes of conduct for public officers and suppliers and contractors, as well as internal control frameworks to developing handbooks and guidelines. There is admittedly a lot still to be done, especially by public bodies, but good progress has been evident so far,” Khan said.
Meanwhile, president of the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry, Fazir Khan, also recognised that barring minor teething problems at the Office of Procurement Regulation, it is expected that the registration of contractors and submission of relevant information will add to the integrity of operations.
Speaking with Guardian Media, Khan also added that with the September 30 deadline having already passed, the publication of the information will be significant.
He said this will assist in removing doubts in the minds of citizens when it comes to how state works are conducted and managed “which will really make for tangible transparency and with that, it is where the start of the benefits of procurement reform lies.”
T&T Contractors’ Association president Glenn Mahabirsingh meanwhile added that his membership has also been moving to comply with the legislation.
He remained encouraged by the public engagement regarding the award of contracts.
“Since the procurement has been proclaimed, we have seen a lot more public tenders, a lot more advertising for tenders on the newspapers, so I would say there are a lot more opportunities because there are a lot more circulation with respect to tenders.”
Mahabirsingh is encouraging suppliers and contractors to adhere to the new regulations, which can ultimately stamp out corruption.
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