The establishment of the long awaited Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is now one step closer to becoming a reality since the Parliamentary Committee tasked with the responsibility of recommending the members for the President’s approval has completed its job.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali, has shortlisted for President David Granger’s approval Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Sukrishnalall Pasha, Ivor English and Dr Nanda Gopaul.
The Guyana Constitution stipulates: “The Public Procurement Commission shall consist of five members who shall have expertise and experience in procurement, legal, finance and administrative matters and the President shall appoint the members of the Commission after such members have been nominated by the PAC and approved by not less than two-thirds of the elected members of the National Assembly.”
The recommendations by the Public Accounts Committee, is expected to come up for debate on Thursday, when Ali presents the recommendations to the Full House for a debate on the suitability of the persons identified.
It is understood that the Committee, during the course of its deliberations, did in fact establish a sub-committee to shortlist the candidates vying for the available positions on the PPC.
Among the persons that did not make the list to be recommended to the President were Balwant Persaud, Devan Khemraj, Brindley Horatio Robeson Benn, Cecil Jerrard Jacques, Lance Carberry, Dr Anand Goolsarran and Christopher Ram.
With the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, the role held by Cabinet in awarding Government contracts will be phased out.
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