Mark tells government: Practise what you preach

Opposition Senator Wade Mark has said the government’s proposed amendments to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill, 2020 go against its own manifesto. He said though the (PNM) party preaches about transparency, integrity and accountability, the bill says otherwise.

He was speaking in the Senate on Tuesday morning.

The bill – which amends the Public Procurement Act of 2015 – was debated in the House of Representatives last Friday. It was passed without Opposition support with 21 votes for, 18 against, and was then sent to be debated in the Senate.

One amendment (section 7 (2)) would remove the Office of Procurement Regulation from overseeing government-to-government arrangements.

The Opposition is against this proposal.

Mark said the bill “extremely disturbing and highly dangerous.

“It will completely destroy the efficacy of the parent act in 2015.”

He said it is a breach of trust that will lead to a “reduction in the quality of our democracy.”

Mark described the law as saying wherever public money is involved, whether government-to-government or private/public sector arrangements, “there must be complete scrutiny, transparency, accountability, integrity, honesty, along with value for money.”

But he said the amendments seek to dismantle the legislation and that Trinidad and Tobago will become “a narco state” if they are passed.

“Today marks a watershed moment in our country’s history," he warned. “We are in an extremely dangerous place if we in the Senate allow this piece of legislation to pass, and to pass without hindrance.

He added, “We in the UNC find it extremely repugnant, reprehensible, indefensible and insane for the government headed by our Prime Minister – who has been preaching about transparency, incorruptibility, morality in public affairs – to now be now openly defending measures that the government knows will only lead to the entrenchment and institutionalisation of corruption and fraud.”