Moonilal: PM’s explanation for procurement-law changes a 'cop-out'

Dr Roodal Moonilal described the Prime Minister’s explanation for changes to the Procurement Act as a “cop-out.”

He said the Government was aware institutional and cultural changes were needed before the act was passed.

Moonilal and Opposition MP Dr Lackram Bodoe spoke on crime, procurement and the health sector at the UNC's Sunday press briefing at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Charles Street, Port of Spain.

Moonilal said, “That is a cop-out. It is an attempt to hide and to disguise the real intention of undermining the procurement legislation.

“We all knew since 2012 what procurement law was. Imagine, 11 years ago we knew what procurement law was and, if implemented, how it would work.”

He said TT’s institutions were to be prepared for new procurement law.
“Clearly, there will be a need for a change of culture, timelines. You cannot wait ten days before something happens to say you are going to buy goods and services, when the law provides for 20 days.

“You have to be proactive. It requires change.”

The United National Congress (UNC) had been asking questions for six years on whether each ministry was prepared and had the designated officers, Moonilal said.

At a PNM rally at Hillview College, Tunapuna on Thursday night, Dr Rowley said the present law meant no one could do business in under two months, the time to facilitate tenders, responses and the input of an advisory committee on procurement.

He said, “We have to come back to Parliament to amend it. If we don’t pass a law to put sensible arrangements in place, TT will grind to a halt.”

Moonilal said if Rowley’s approach was taken, the entire procurement law should be thrown in the bin.

“Everything is a revolutionary approach to procurement, because, we believe, after the Uff Commission of Enquiry into Udecott and the Brian Lara Stadium and other projects, we believe procurement legislation was necessary. Necessary for transparency, accountability and good governance,” Moonilal said.

He said most suppliers of goods and services knew Government processes payment after they are delivered.

At the start of his statement, Moonilal said it was the UNC which raised the issue of the passing of Exemption Orders 164 and 206, which exempted certain activities and tendering processes from procurement law.

Moonilal described as “wrong” the amendment to exempt contracts for goods and services under $1 million.

“That means they will quickly give out ten small contracts for under a million. That would be more or less $10 million in contracts given out for critical goods and services. That they are going to attempt to do.”

He added that the Government, having passed the law with affirmative resolution, wanted to pass the law with negative resolution. Negative resolution means when an order is made it immediately becomes law, unless changed by a motion in Parliament within 40 days.

The party was “extremely upset and angry” at this and, in coming days, the Opposition would speak on the matter with all its might, he said.

Moonilal said TT would host the Commonwealth Junior Games from August 4-11 and millions would be spent on goods and services.

“With the passage of this law, assuming it is passed, they can then procure goods and services under the guise of the Commonwealth Junior Games for the elections in TT due August 14,” he said.

Moonilal said it was an attempt to subvert procurement law for the benefit of the PNM in the local government elections.

Parliament is expected to sit on this issue on Wednesday.