Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 13, 2013 News
The Alliance For Change (AFC), in its quest to secure an effective Public Procurement Commission, (PPC) has decided to withhold its Parliamentary support for amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act until such time that the Commission is established.
That stance, which is popularly referred to as political horse-trading, was unveiled at an AFC press conference yesterday.
AFC treasurer, Dominic Gaskin said that the Party will continue its work at the level of the Parliamentary Select Committee to assess the effectiveness of the proposed amendments in meeting the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).
Gaskin told media operatives that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government clearly does not believe that the citizens of Guyana deserve to have an independent Public Procurement Commission to regulate and monitor the process by which their tax dollars are spent.
He said that the PPC is a Constitutional Commission provided for by the Public Procurement Act of 2003, and must be established according to the provisions of this Act.
Gaskin said that “having delayed its establishment for over a decade, Government is now seeking to amend the terms of the Act under which it is to be established so as to lessen its effectiveness.”
Section 54 of the Act deals with a review by Cabinet (no objection) of procurements in excess of $15 million. It states explicitly that Cabinet’s involvement under this section shall cease upon the constitution of the Public Procurement Commission, except in relation to certain pending matters.
Gaskin said yesterday, that the AFC views the recent insistence by President Donald Ramotar that Cabinet should maintain its ”no objection” role in the procurement process as totally inconsistent with the provisions of the Act and an attempt to subvert the Constitution of Guyana.
Gaskin noted that his party’s wish to remind the President that the matter of Cabinet’s ”no objection” role was thoroughly debated in the National Assembly before the passage of the Public Procurement Act of 2003.
The politician said, “Guyanese public deserves the benefits of both of these measures, namely: effective Anti-Money Laundering Legislation and an independent Public Procurement Commission.”
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