Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has once again issued a warning to Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers that the Government will not tolerate deviation from procurement rules in the award of contracts.

The Government has embarked on a massive infrastructure programme that has seen billions of dollars being dolled out in contracts.

But many of those contracts and the awarding of them, have came under the microscope over the award itself, the cost and the quality of work being executed.

There is also the issue that supporters of the governing party and their families are being given preference for contracts even in areas where they have no qualification or expertise.

The Opposition has flagged the practice of being one that involves “friends, families and favourites of the PPP”.

In a discussion yesterday with the officials, Mr. Jagdeo reiterated that any departure from the procurement regulations will not longer be tolerated.

In a discussion with Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executives, Vice President Jagdeo on Tuesday said the Government will not tolerate any departure from the regulations governing the award of contracts.

He acknowledged the challenges that some agencies face in managing the country’s “unprecedented” Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), and while commending public servants for successfully implementing the majority of projects, he expressed concern over issues in procurement practices.

The Vice President said he believes the majority of the public projects are being completed in accordance with procurement rules.

However, almost every major project that is being executed, has seen concerns raised about the procurement process and the awarding of the contracts.

The Vice President pointed out that there have been some deviations from the Procurement Act and the Standard Bidding Document despite the time and effort spent developing these advanced legislative frameworks. He stressed that all public officials must familiarize themselves with the Procurement Act and Standard Bidding Documents, and fully comply with the rules.

Jagdeo also criticized instances where there has been deliberate slowing down of project implementation by some agencies, which leads to a year-end rush and is then used to justify sole sourcing of contracts.

He called for early planning and execution, ensuring that NPTAB grants sole sourcing approvals only under exceptional circumstances, which must be clearly detailed to Cabinet. The Vice President made it clear that this practice must be curtailed.

Additionally, Jagdeo highlighted the potential manipulation of the three-quote system, warning that it must be used sparingly and within a controlled environment to preserve the integrity of the bids.

He also expressed concern about the increasing use of restrictive tendering by some Ministries, often without valid justification. 

Referring to some reports of corruption, Jagdeo condemned instances where bribes are being solicited to expedite payments for completed work, urging agency heads to remain vigilant. He emphasized that such practices ultimately damage the government’s reputation, as those paying bribes often blame the administration for these corrupt activities. He urged accounting officers to be more vigilant, moving forward.

The Vice President pointed out too that there are a few cases where several members from one family may have companies registered with them, and they all bid for contracts. 

In addition, Jagdeo addressed the misuse of contingency sums set aside for projects, stressing that these resources are subject to approval and are not for the discretionary use of engineers, nor are contractors entitled to it. He revealed that several engineers have been fired for approving substandard projects that led to government payments for work not completed.

He also condemned the inflation of bills and warned that this practice would not be tolerated.

Jagdeo said he has also received from Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and other government agencies, where officials have private companies that are bidding for work in the same agencies.

The Vice President said those wishing to be contractors must leave their government positions, as a clear conflict of interest would exist.

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