(Trinidad Express) Nine private sector/civil society groups have written to Planning and Economy Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, expressing concern that the request for proposals (RFP) and tendering process for the development of Invaders Bay is still on.
Representatives from the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute, Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago Contractors’ Association, Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects and Trinidad and Tobago Society of Planners signed a letter dated and dispatched on Wednesday to the minister’s office, noting their dissatisfaction at the tendering process.
The signatories say the RFPs are a tendering process, initiated by the ministry; as such, they say the ministry needs to explain how this is possible, since only the Central Tenders Board (CTB), a branch of the Ministry of Finance has the sole and exclusive authority to act for and on behalf of the government, except in limited cases that are not applicable in this instance.
“It is expected that in the interest of a transparent, corruption-free process, the CTB would have prime responsibility… it appears to have been circumvented,” said the letter.
The groups say the land up for development is public land estimated at TT$1 billion and the flawed tendering process can result in the people’s patrimony being diverted.
They also say the RFP lacked a clear set of rules during the bid stage, and were only established after the closing date.
“In this context, we view this current RFP process as being improper and ill-advised,” they said.
They reiterated their calls for an effective public procurement system, and reminded the minister of the proposals they have suggested on the matter.
The deadline for the Invaders Bay RFPs was October 4. A winner is yet to be announced.
