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Trinidad and Tobago : Minister - Govt. committed to amending Procurement Bill
Publish Date : 18-Nov-2015
Housing Minister Marlene McDonald has announced that the government is not backing down from its decision to revise the Procurement Bill brought to Parliament by the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar government as it was flawed.
Moreover, she said the Act was not completely proclaimed.
Addressing the T&T Contractors Association (TTCA) Contractor of the Year Awards and Dinner held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre on Lady Young Road in St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday, she said while the Keith Rowley-led government was aware of concerns raised by the fraternity on learning of Cabinet's plan to amend the law, reforms were absolutely required.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert had recently said in the House of Representatives that the procurement bill has been submitted to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament for scrutiny and expects a report by 22nd January, 2016.
Imbert said the JSC will then examine the policy and merits of the bill and procedures to approve a procurement regulator to see if it made sense and was in the best interest of the country.
Speaking to the audience of contractors, McDonald, said, "Our intention is to amend and seek to reform and make changes which we consider essential. Our overriding reason is that the Act fails the expectation of the people. Members of your association may have held and many indeed still hold the view that there is legislation in place and notwithstanding our reservations, we should make them work. Our position has been clear. There are fundamental short comings in the Act. Additionally, the Act did not engage the trust of the population and the belief that it would tackle most grievous issues consequent upon the absence of good procurement legislation. Further, it was only partially proclaimed."
