The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament is broadening its search for candidates for the long-awaited Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and a new deadline for nominees of February 19th, 2016 has been set.
Last November, the PAC advertised for nominees and at the end of December last year, its Chairman Irfaan Ali said he was not pleased with the number of names that were put forward.
In today’s Sunday Stabroek, Parliament Office in a notice said that it is the wish of the PAC that the composition of the PPC reflects as far as possible the social, gender and political makeup of the country. In keeping with this decision, the PAC said it was now seeking names from a reasonably wide cross-section of society. It therefore invited stakeholders, political parties, civil organisations and individuals who have an interest in the establishment of the PPC to submit the names of persons eligible to be commissioners.
Submissions have to be addressed to the Clerk of the Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Committees Division, Parliament Office, Public Buildings, Brickdam.
The Parliament Office ran advertisements for weeks prior to the submission deadline of December 23, 2015 alerting interested persons to apply or provide a nomination.
It was noted in the ad that Article 212X (1) of the Constitution states that “the Public Procurement Commission shall consist of five members who shall have expertise and experience in procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters” and (2) the President shall appoint the members of the Commission after such members have been nominated by the Public Accounts Committee and approved by not less than two-thirds of the elected members of the National Assembly.”
This would mean that the candidates would have to have the approval of both sides of the House.
It pointed out that the nominees should first and foremost be competent to carry out the required duties.
“The usual considerations regarding the need to be of good repute, without criminal records and no history of bankruptcy, apply,” the ad said.
The Commissioners, once appointed, would be part-time.
For years the PPP/C while in office had haggled with the PNCR, APNU and the AFC over candidates for the PPC and how many should be nominated by either side.
Both APNU and the AFC, while in opposition, had lobbied for the removal of Cabinet’s “no-objection” role in the procurement process. According to the Procurement Act, Cabinet shall have the right to review all procurements, the value of which exceeds $15 million. However, once the PPC is commissioned, Cabinet’s no-objection powers will be phased out so as to decentralize the procurement process.
Though the Act was implemented in 2003, the Cabinet still holds full powers as it relates to its role in the procurement process owing to the fact that the PPC has not been constituted. Cabinet presently signals its no-objection to contracts and only then can they proceed. This “no-objection” role had been strongly opposed by APNU and AFC when they were in opposition.
