…after letters enquiries into contracts handed out in Reg. 3 unanswered
A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul has turned to the Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh for answers on the composition of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Boards after letters enquiring into contracts handed out in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) were left unanswered.
Mahipaul is seeking the Minister’s interpretation of the term ‘Regional Administration’ as used in Section 19 (2) (b) of the Procurement Act 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003). Additionally, he has asked the Minister to provide the names and job titles of every member of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Boards for all 10 administrative regions.
“Can the Honourable Minister state what method was used to appoint members to the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board in all ten administrative regions? Was it by an election or selection and who facilitated/conducted/supervised the method used to appoint members to the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board for all ten administrative Regions?” he further asked.
But while the list of questions was submitted to the National Assembly on November 23, 2020, Mahipaul said he is yet to receive a response.
The APNU+AFC Parliamentarian told Village Voice News that he opted to submit the questions to the National Assembly after two letters dispatched to the Region 3, Regional Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Jagnarine Somwar; and the Chairman of the Ministerial Procurement and Tender Administration Board went unanswered.
In the letters, dated October 26, 2020, Mahipaul enquired into the contracts awarded since August 2.
In particular, the APNU+AFC MP asked Somwar for “a brief descript of the goods, services, construction or consulting services procured; [and] the names and addresses of the supplies or contractors that submitted tenders, proposals or quotations and the name and address of the supplier or contractor with which contracts are entered into and contract prices.”
Similar questions were put to the Chairman of the Ministerial Procurement and Tender Administration Board but no answer has been given.
