The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has advertised for a manager for its investigations department as it seeks to build its capacity to fulfill its functions, including the debarment of contractors.
Chairperson Carol Corbin told Stabroek News that the position was always on its organisational chart but it did not have the resources to employ the person earlier in the year.
“Remember that we are an organisation just born and we are building capacity gradually as we get financial resources to do so,” Corbin explained.
“That position was always on our organisational chart, but we are gradually taking steps to build our full complement of staff. In addition, we will need appropriate capacity to execute our responsibilities in relation to adjudicating debarment proceedings. These will also require us to conduct investigations,” she added.
The advertisement, which was published in the Sunday newspapers, says the Investigations Manager will be required to work under the direction of Corbin. The appointee would be responsible for planning and conducting initial reviews and investigations into alleged misconduct, mismanagement or violation relating to the public procurement standards and laws and regulations of Guyana.
A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Auditing, Procurement, Accounting and Finance or a related field is required along with three years’ experience. Candidates are also required to have knowledge of the Procurement Act of Guyana and its Regulations.
The other members of the PPC are former labour minister Nanda Kishore Gopaul, who is the PPC’s vice-chairman, and attorney Emily Dodson, accountant Sukrishnalall Pasha and educator Ivor English.
Among the PPC’s key functions, according to the Procurement Act are to: “Monitor and review the functioning of all procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly; promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, constructors and public bodies; safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters, having due regard to any international obligations; monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works; approve of procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities.”
It will also “monitor and review all legislation, policies and measures for compliance with the objects and matters under its purview and report the need for any legislation to the National Assembly; monitor and review the procurement procedures of the ministerial, regional, and national procurement entities as well as those of project execution units; investigate complaints from suppliers, contractors and public entities and propose remedial action; investigate cases of irregularity and mismanagement, and propose remedial action; initiate investigations to facilitate the effective functioning of public procurement systems.”
