Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul on Saturday criticized Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo for merely discussing and not rectifying issues related to corruption in Guyana’s procurement system. Mahipaul contended that fixing the persistent corruption requires significant legislative amendments, not just public commentary as Jagdeo does at his weekly press engagements.
In a recent press statement, Mahipaul highlighted the deep-rooted flaws in the procurement system, which operates under the Procurement Act of 2003. He contended that the system has failed to ensure fairness and competitive bidding, primarily due to problematic roles played by the Evaluation Committee and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
“The NPTAB is composed solely of government appointees, which undermines the impartiality of the procurement process,” Mahipaul stated. He further criticized the Evaluation Committee for not effectively fulfilling its responsibilities. Deviations from established criteria during bid evaluations have led to contracts being awarded to less qualified or unqualified bidders, according to Mahipaul.
Moreover, he argued that the government’s frequent references to past practices as a justification for current inefficiencies are insufficient. “While understanding historical context is important, it should not excuse ongoing problems simply because what is happening now is worse than what happened in the past,” he emphasized.
To address these systemic issues, Mahipaul has proposed several reforms. He suggests that at least three of the seven members of the NPTAB be nominated by the Parliamentary Opposition, with these members selected for their proven integrity and expertise in areas such as business, law, finance, audit, and administration.
Additionally, Mahipaul advocated for strict adherence to bid evaluation criteria by the Evaluation Committee, with a focus on selecting the lowest evaluated/responsive bidder based on submitted documentation. He called for proper training and adherence to clear guidelines to ensure accuracy and fairness in the evaluation process.
Mahipaul also stressed the need for legislative amendments that would introduce penalties for political office holders who deliberately act to favour friends, family, or other preferred entities. These reforms, he argued, are necessary to align Guyana’s procurement practices with international best standards and establish a more transparent and effective system.
Criticizing the Vice President’s Thursday press conferences as insufficient, he described these as “Thursday’s ramblings,” suggesting that they amount to little more than empty rhetoric if not followed by concrete actions.
He insisted that only real reforms or corrective actions can truly help to uproot the corruption that continues to affect the system.
