As the Guyana Elections Commission awaits the outcome of a 2015 audit for general procurement, Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, is making it clear that the millions of dollars spent on the purchase of radio and other equipment for the 2015 elections were all done through the National Tender Board and got the approval of the cabinet of the former government.
Speaking to News Source, Mr. Lowenfield explained that the Guyana Elections Commission has a $249,999 ceiling of purchases that it could make on its own. All procurement above that figure would go through the National Tender Board and would have to receive the approval of cabinet.
He said in the run up to the 2015 elections, that was the case when it came to the purchase of radio equipment and pliers and other equipment for polling stations across the country. He said companies offered their bids for the various procurement contracts and it was the Tender Board that made decisions about who got those contracts and once that was done, the cabinet of the last government offered its no objection approval.
He reminded that following the announcement of the date for elections, there was a three month window period for GECOM to have all systems in place for the hosting of the elections. He said the tender board was provided with a list of contractors and the items they could provide to the Tender Board.
“Depending on the cost of items, for those $15 Million and above, it was sent to cabinet and the cabinet made its announcements at those post-cabinet press briefings”.
Back in 2015, the Elections Commission was still a budget agency with oversight from the Ministry of Finance with then Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon providing responsibility similar to Ministerial responsibility.
The Chief Elections Officer’s explanation comes against the backdrop of revelations that millions of dollars had been spent on the procurement of radio equipment for the elections and some of the equipment arrived faulty while others never went into use. Those contracts went through the Tender Board and were all approved by the last government.
Similar contracts for the provision of nippers also got the same approval after tenders had been received from reputable companies that provide the product. With 2,285 polling stations and thousands of ballot boxes, Lowenfield said the nippers were purchased for the opening of those sealed boxes.
He said there was selective tendering and it was necessary because of the small window period for the hosting of the polls. He said GECOM wanted to ensure that the elections were efficiently conducted and therefore in a number of instances, selective tendering from regular providers was done but everything went through the tender board and got the approval of the cabinet at the time.
He said while he would not comment on the auditing being done by the Auditor General’s Office, he believes it is the right department to ascertain that all procedures were followed.
The People’s Progressive Party has been calling for the resignation of the Chairman of the Elections Commission and has reportedly decided against supporting a renewal of Lowenfield’s contract. The party’s position is as a result of its belief that the elections were not properly conducted and were rigged.
All of the international observers for the 2015 elections, praised the elections as free, fair and credible. The same Chairman and Chief Elections Officer were at GECOM during prior victories at the polls for the PPP.
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