Governor still concerned over procurement practices
The government has been commended for making changes to procurement practices that had been strongly criticised in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report. But there are still concerns that need to be addressed.
The COI report had found that there was no public tendering in roughly two-thirds of government contracts issued between January 2019 and April 2021. The government has since moved to do better.
However, Governor John Rankin said in his latest quarterly report on the implementation of COI recommendations that although he is encouraged by the increased use of open procurement, he still has several concerns about the number of single source procurements being done by the government.
“I have concerns about the number of single source procurements. As a matter both of law and good governance, this should be the exception rather than the norm,” Governor Rankin wrote.
The Governor further noted that he is also concerned about the length of time it is taking to publish tender waivers.
He highlighted that of the nine tender waivers carried out by the government between May to December 2022, only five of these have been published so far.
Governor Rankin said he wrote to UK Minister for Overseas Territories Lord Zac Goldsmith in April with an update on procurement by the BVI Government between January to March 2023 as he had requested.
During that period, there were 11 contracts that valued more than $100,000 — five of which were approved following open tendering, four were single source procurements, and two were for specialist legal work (this is exempt from the requirements of the Public Procurement Act).
The Governor also pointed out that a number of contracts were agreed in the weeks preceding the general election.
“In this period, one tender waiver was agreed (which pertained to a legacy contract), 19 publicly-tendered contracts were approved, there were nine single source procurements (many of which are for the leasing of buildings) and four public procurement exemptions,” Governor Rankin stated.
He added: “I believe that better planning would allow for better procurement and improved value for money from government contracts.”
According to the Governor, agreeing to tender waivers and having to make retrospective payments because of an absence of forward planning is contrary to good governance.
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This man seems like all he does is sit in his office all day and look for something negative so the BVI can seem like they can never do anything right while everything under his responsibility is falling down but no one can hold him accountable. Not even to say congratulations for direct flights from USA has he said positive.
Them VIP boyz still playing games with you
The rats are still enjoying the cheese shop.
They continue to get away with corruption because the Governor is weak and seems to be afraid to tackle the crooks.
Lets hope the next one has more cjones.
What procurement process did the Governor use to show transparency when the Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry was hired and the staff used. There was none but again no one can look into them but they can look into everyone else. This is not democracy.
See – I still get mine “there were nine single source procurements (many of which are for the leasing of buildings)”
Governor where the people them increment..
Everything done in place from the elected Government side
Where the F-ing people them increment money THAT You are now responsible for giving them!
Is that you need to be checking for instead of keep coming out with a set a negative story.
THE PEOPLE WANT THEM INCREMENT — SORT THAT OUT!!!!!
COI or no the thieving continues
They get away with it because both you and the UK are weak! You talk the talk, but you don’t have the balls to back up anything you say! They call your bluff, and you fall like a deck of cards in an almost non-existent summer breeze.
Do something, or just shut the hell up! Because I for one am personally sick of you now along with your spineless and nutless puppet masters!
Zero has changed.
The Governor did not open tender when he contracted AS, JS, SD or DF to do the reports on statutory boards, ministerial discretion and the integrity in public life legislation. Why didn’t he follow the procedures he wishes the ministers to follow in procuring goods and services?
This Gov just Bark, Bark, Bark, complain, complain, complain. Listening to him ain sweet no more, soon no one will be interested in what he has to say..We are people of action, can’t take this talk, talk, talk..Governor find solutions
.
Our government is not committed to anything but wasting public funds.
Look, the only thing that we should consider is joining the USA. Less corruption and holding governors accountable.
WELL YOU BHAS JUST MADE HIS POINT , IF YHERE WASN’T ANYTHING NEGATIVE TO TALK ABOUT THEN HE WILL ONLY HAVE POSITIVE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT ,DUH , YOU BLO SO MUCH RACIST REMARKS THAT YOU ARE TIEING UP YOURSELF ,HERE IS A COUPLE NEW NAMES FOR YOU FOR YOU TO USE ( IDIOT AND NERD ) AS YOU ARE USING ALL KINDS OF NAMES TO DO YOUR DAILY BLOGGING
From a civil servant that knows stop the propaganda about the governor being responsible for the increments not being paid.
Who is responsible?
Where does the buck stop? Who checks up on it to make sure that persons are paid within the stipulated timeframe? Who holds persons to account? These things need to be looked into. The system is flawed. How do large countries manage the numbers? Why can’t a small island territory manage something as simple as this?
The Territory is in a sad state becaue of incomotence and wilfullness. Political gerrymandering in every Department, everybody want to be the boss doing as the please.Every are that the COI has identified that needs fixing is critical to the future wellbeing of the Territory. But this kind of resistance against good governance will be regretted. And the people will no one to blame but themselves and those they elected to hold political office. Just wait and see.
The answer to your questions is that the Territory does not want accountability. There is no honor smong thieves.