CABINET NOTES:
Four (4) officials from the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance, led by the Financial Secretary, were invited to Cabinet to expand on the new Procurement Rules that were articulated in a recent press release.
Since the issue of extended credit to suppliers and contractors is to be approved only by the Financial Secretary, several Ministers sought to clarify the likely results which those firms that usually extend credit to their ministries would now be treated.
The Financial Secretary explained that double billing and double payment have occurred; every attempt is being made to ensure that the government gets value for every dollar that it spends.
Inflated invoices have also proven to be quite a challenge; the Financial Secretary is expected to ensure that, working with the Treasury officials, the government gets its ‘value for money’.
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The recent Procurement rules are child’s play. They are a road map for graft and corruption but they have to begin at some place.
1.The government want to see that companies it is doing business with are registered companies: paying ASBT, Education Levy and Social Security and Medical benefits. etc. A basic good move.
2. What is the Governments criteria of capability to perform? As well as a qualification process to arrive at a “Request for Bid List”. Besides those listed under No.1 what are the other criteria for getting the opportunity to provide an estimate or quotation to GOAB? What?
3. What are the Government Rules and Policies regarding “Invitation to Bid or Price quotations.
4.What are the Government policies concerning the public opening of Bids and Quotations?
5.What are the Government policies of segregating Procurements into categories to enable Small and start-up businesses to be competitive?
6. What are the Government Policies concerning the review of work done or services provided.
7. What are the Government policies concerning payments?
8. On larger Contracts what the policies surrounding RFPs
These are basic Policies that should be published and readily available.
This type of procurement method was introduced by Harold Lovell as finance minister and evidently suffered for it. The reason being, in Antigua we love bobol and are against anything that run right. Now that is why they reached out to ABLP and the creative enrichment schemes that flow from them. So it’s left to be seen if this is a serious step. My feeling is, that like everything ABLP does, it will target some and not others. Then, closer to the election, all will fall down and revert right back to the bobol.
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