Saint Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—As the Federation continues to push its development agenda, concerns are being raised about procurement legislation and whether it goes far enough to root out corruption.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Konris Maynard, says updated legislation, passed by the government several years ago, is designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.
“Now, the systems sometimes are only as good as the people who are there to enforce them. So, we do have procurement legislation already that explains what is to be done. But if you’re going to have people in positions of power who are going to say, well, that is not for us right now, then, you know, that’s a challenge. So, the first thing that I think we would have done is, for instance, we brought to the Parliament anti-corruption legislation, so that now when you identify somebody who is actively breaching any other established law that amounts to corruption in public office, there’s no remedy for that. So, that was one of the important things that we did. One of the other important things that we did, of course, is to insist that the people who are in these positions adhere as far as is reasonably possible to all the requirements that exist and where there are challenges to bring that to the the authorities so that any anomalies can then be addressed.”
Procurement has long been a source of concern in the Federation, with persistent issues over the years prompting the government to act under its good governance agenda.
“So, that is why we continue to try to do everything in the light of day, according to what is legislated… The procurement board is effectively the highest authority on who makes the decision, but I think perhaps what also needs to happen is an understanding of what the procurement legislation actually says. There are decisions that can be made outside of the purview of the procurement board, depending on the level.
So, if you have to buy a sweetie for 25 cents and one costs 20 cents, that is the decision of a particular officer in the ministry. When it gets to certain amounts, then it reaches to the procurement board, and that is where the decision is made.
“Yes, because, you know, I think it’s anything above 400,000 has to go to the procurement board.
“For works. For works. What I am aware of is that, projects that I have seen, the evaluation is done, it goes to the procurement board, and it is the decision of the procurement board that is used. I am not aware that the procurement board has made a decision, and then some ultra-virus or some other hand of God has come in and changed that. So, I am not aware of a situation like that in this administration.
“Okay, and sole sourcing was another issue. How are you guys working?
“Well, sole sourcing is a part of procurement, right? Sole sourcing just has to have the necessary parameters that are forged to be a sole source. For instance, if you are able and you are the only person in St. Kitts who makes a leather bag, then that is justification for being a sole source. So, sole source is not against procurement laws…” – Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure.
Image:Law-scrabble-tiles