Dear Editor,
In light of a disclosure through a press statement made by the undersigned in his capacity as a Director for a private firm, SphereX Professional Services Inc. (hereinafter “SphereX”), wherein SphereX terminated a contract with ExxonMobil Guyana (hereinafter “EMGL”), a Stabroek News (SN) reporter, namely, Khadidja Ba, wrote to the Public Procurement Commission (hereinafter “the Commission”), where the undersigned also sits as a Commissioner, enquiring whether the Commission was ever made aware of the undersigned’s business relationship with EMGL, and whether any conflict of interest was appropriately disclosed by the undersigned involving EMGL.
Let me say that as an independent constitutional office holder serving the public’s interests, I am duty bound to subject myself to this level of public scrutiny. I would therefore like to thank SN for this opportunity, as I welcome these enquiries, which I am more than happy and willing to address.
The Commission is well aware of my private consulting practice through the aforementioned firm (SphereX). As regards conflicts of interest at the Commission level and my previous business relationship with EMGL; to date, there hasn’t been any matter regarding EMGL that has ever engaged the attention of the Commission for a decision or deliberation. As such, there was never any conflict-of-interest situation specific to EMGL and the undersigned as a commissioner of the Public Procurement Commission.
Moreover, it is important to note, too, that EMGL has nothing to do with the Public Procurement Commission, per se; since EMGL does not tender for government contracts. Accordingly, EMGL’s operation is governed by the Petroleum Agreement (2016), the Local Content Act, the Petroleum Activities Act, and the Environmental Protection Act. Thus, there is absolutely no conflict of interest.
Suffice it to state, the Commission’s records would confirm (i.e., the minutes of the Commission’s meetings), however, that whenever a conflict of interest arose, I had promptly made such disclosure and recused myself accordingly.
For example, the Commission’s records would confirm that there were two separate occasions in the past where two “private companies” had lodged complaints in relation to public tenders they participated in, of which, one was a past client and the other was a current client of SphereX. These were promptly disclosed to the Commission, and I had recused myself accordingly.
Furthermore, I have appropriately and as a matter of principle, disclosed and recused myself in the recruitment process for staff of the Commission as well. To this end, there were two instances when two candidates had applied for various positions who were personally known to me.
All of the foregoing disclosures can be confirmed by the Commission.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to put on record and to state explicitly that I am not the leader of any political party, I am not an executive member of any political party, and I am not an ordinary card bearing member of any political party.
Of note, SphereX is a professional services firm that provides economic, financial and investment advisory services and political analysis to both local and foreign corporate clients/investors.
Yours sincerely,
Joel Bhagwandin
