The Opposition PNC is sitting on a goldmine, but slumbers on its windfall, and does next to nothing, if anything at all, with what is before it. There is the beautifully named National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), now a running public secret, but the opposition manifests nothing but casual indifference. I think it is a combination of the necessary work ethic missing, plus some skills and resourcefulness on an extended holiday, and the interest to go after what could come back to be an obstacle later is best left on the back burner.
NPTAB -the national in it is now more aced by individual and political visions and what those could mean where they count -in the hand. Procurement has less to do with taxpayers’ benefits and satisfaction, and what results in a piece of the contract action. Tender depends on who is involved, and who is earmarked to be the ultimate suitor that wins over the competition. While the administration is an insult to the noun, the practice, and the principled ones in the vicinity: administration of what? As for ‘board’, indeed it has been reduced to such a game, and with snakes and ladders to match: some get gobbled up, and some inexplicably run ahead of the pack. Yeah, NPTAB has mutated into the roll of the dice. As we all know, I certainly do, in the real world, some dice are loaded, and some people have a light, feathery touch that makes dice roll however and to wherever is desired.
The hard reality of NPTAB is that close to half of the national budget passes under its roof. Considering this year’s budget, NPTAB has, or will have, some screening reviewing, and deciding action involving several hundred billion local dollars. No! there is no mistake, for NPTAB sits in judgment (processes) somewhere between 300-400 billion dollars in capital projects, some old, and most fresh off the drawing board of the PPP Government. Any Opposition with one eye, one foot, and one part of its mind functioning and focused, should be overjoyed at putting NPTAB and its many activities under the microscope, and following the traces wherever such lead.
I insert a cautionary note at this point. The Opposition is not going to get anything handed to it on a platter. It is my belief that there are too many secrets to protect at NPTAB, and too many relationships to disown. The operative word is confidential. It goes without saying that there are huge amounts of money involved, which serve as their own incentives, magnets, or muzzles. Given the terrain, the Opposition has to be prepared to do a lot of legwork, plenty of patient probing, and much listening. It is going to have to put its ear to the ground, then do more digging, and next connect the dots in this business about contract awards, particularly those that smell a little too sweetly.
Even a cursory interest in the work of the NPTAB suggests that the territory is rich and ripe for harvesting. I think that this is a case of significant low-hanging fruit for the Opposition to pluck. Think of this: NPTAB is neither a part-time nor a seasonal operation. Here is something else on which to chew: other than the GRA, there is nothing in the league of what passes through NPTAB’s hands when the hundreds of billions in projects of different sizes, purposes, and places are considered. To repeat the beginning: this has all the features of a loaded goldmine.
If NPTAB is where the Opposition PNC channels its interest and energies, it is imperative that there are no slip-ups. The right people should be selected for they are the ones that could deliver. I define ‘right’ to mean honest, careful, and trustworthy. Those who may be inclined to cut deals for themselves should be dismissed out of hand. Because there is a premium on confidentiality, that aspect must be borne in mind, and given much weight. Loose lips would destroy any promising developments, and with that, the window of opportunity to take a deep dive into the affairs of NPTAB was all but lost. Nobody would dare to speak, refer, or get involved in any way when secrecy is so prized.
Conscientious and observant workers on the sideline of NPTAB’ flurry of activities would clam up quickly. Disgruntled contractors always coming up short may decide that silence is better than valor, and that tomorrow the unlucky string of coming in second or third could be snapped. Put differently, contractors who don’t play the game, or are outside favored circles, [but keep their disappointment to themselves] could end up with a winning bid.
I think that the Opposition has its work cut out for it, but it has no choice. Doing its own heavy lifting with NPTAB and revealing it true workings could make the Opposition viable and relevant. It could possibly get to the bottom of what is really going on in the bowels of NPTAB, about which a growing number of Guyanese think that disturbing things have gone on too long, and cost the taxpayers too much. I have been in the same space for years.
My advice to the Opposition is simple: do not let a golden opportunity go to waste. Don’t bother about how any clamping down on NPTAB could backfire. Just do it, and let the chips fall where they do. The upside for the Opposition is enormous, can make it look good. Remember: corruption kills.
