Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 10, 2016 News
By Kiana Wilburg
After months of deliberations, the names and appointments of the Commissioners for the Public Procurement Commission received nothing but unconditional support from Members of Parliament on Monday.
Speaking on the widely debated matter was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Irfaan Ali.
Ali appeared to be in an extremely “congratulatory” mood, as he thanked almost everyone he could remember that had a direct or indirect role to play in the House reaching such a stage on the Commission. He thanked past and present PAC members for their dedication to the establishment of the Commission, as well as parliamentary staff for their unwavering work and support over the years. Additionally, the PAC Chairman was elated, to say the least, that the motion on the Procurement Commission attracted consensus.
Ali said that he saw the historic moment as a win for all in the National Assembly and expressed thanks to those who contributed to the strengthening of Guyana’s financial sector such as Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge.
Ali also made reference to the PAC’s report on the appointment of the members to the Commission.
The report noted that the Committee at its third meeting held on November 23, 2015, agreed to continue the work of the previous Committee and to re-advertise for submissions of nominations for the Public Procurement Commission, since some of the names previously submitted were now Members of Cabinet or functioning in some other senior capacity.
In addition, Members were given an extract on the Public Procurement Commission from the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to enable them to examine and study. Ali said that thereafter a date was set for discussions on how the Committee would move forward on this matter.
At the sixth meeting held on January 18, last, the PAC Chairman advised the Committee that only six responses were received for the proposed nomination to the Public Procurement Commission. He subsequently suggested that the Committee re-advertise for another month since the last advertisement did not yield the results anticipated. Members agreed to this.
On April 8, last, Ali informed the Committee that a total of 29 submissions had been received for nomination to the Public Procurement Commission. He proposed that a Sub-committee comprising the Chairman and the Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence, be established in an effort to shortlist the nominees and present them to the Committee for consideration and subsequent approval.
The PAC Chairman said that on June 30, last, the Clerk of the Committee was instructed by the Sub-Committee to write the Commissioner of Police in relation to due diligence being conducted on the following persons: Emily Dodson, Balwant Persaud, Devan Khemraj, Brindley Horatio Robeson Benn, Cecil Jacques, Lance Carberry, Carol Corbin, Dr. Anand Goolsarran, Lallbachan Christopher Ram, Sukrishnalall Pasha, Dr. Nanda Gopaul and Ivor English.
The Committee was subsequently informed that the persons were not criminally known. After further deliberations and short listing, it was noted that Ram and Goolsarran were removed from the list as they provide auditing services to the Government.
In the end, the Committee unanimously decided that the nominees to be appointed to the commission will be Emily Dodson, Carl Corbin, Ivor English, Dr. Nanda Gopaul and Sukrishnalall Pasha.
House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland said he was pleased and found it refreshing that all the MPs voted for the motion to appoint those nominees. Similar sentiments were shared by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Before moving a motion to send the House into a period of recess until October 10, Nagamootoo lauded the occasion as one which represents a glimmer of hope that the Members of Parliament can partake in a bipartisan engagement.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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