Afra Raymond is interviewed by Kiel Taklalsingh and Stefan Ramkissoon on The Section One show on TV Jaagriti on Sunday, 13 December 2020 on the amendments to the Public Procurement law. Video courtesy TV Jaagriti
The previous article explained that our Parliament reduced independent oversight of the biggest contracts in our country. But all the power is not in Parliament, so it is important to note that civil society has substantial power and influence in these public policy matters.
For example, take the June 2019 attempt by the government to effectively erode citizens’ right to information held by Public Authorities, by amending the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA). On 7 June 2019, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, laid proposals in Parliament to extend the existing 30-day time limit for Public Authorities to respond to FoIA requests to 180 days. The 30-day time limit is regularly exceeded by Public Authorities, so the proposed extension would have made nonsense of citizens’ right to information.
Those of us committed to those rights to information took up the challenge by alerting the public to the perils, led by the Media Association of T&T (MATT) under Dr. Sheila Rampersad’s direction. Our brief, intense campaign culminated in MATT’s overflowing seminar on Saturday 15th June 2019 at Hotel Normandie, with Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. SC being the powerful and persuasive lead speaker.
The AG withdrew the proposals ‘for further consultation’ and no more was heard on that count. This demonstrates that it is possible, by concerted, focused and informed agitation, to stop detrimental public policies.
Our history is replete with these important lessons. It is important to understand how these changes arise.
Continue reading “Public Procurement Collapse, Part Two”On Friday 4 December 2020 our Parliament passed the third set of amendments to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act (The Act). These changes are a serious blow to the long-term campaign for proper control over transactions in Public Money and are extremely detrimental to the public interest. Government to Government Arrangements (G2G), Public Private Partnerships and a range of professional/financial services have been excluded from the oversight of the Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR).
Our elected representatives proposed to our Parliament that the biggest contracts executed with Public Money were better administered without independent oversight as intended in The Act, passed as Act No 1 of 2015.
Continue reading “Public Procurement Collapse, Part I”
Afra Raymond appears on WESN’s current affairs programme “Long Story Short” on Saturday 5th December 2020 for an interview with Kejan Haynes on to discuss the contentious amendments to the Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Property Act of Trinidad and Tobago. Video courtesy WESN
Afra Raymond’s interview on TV6 on The Morning Edition with Fazeer Mohammed on the amendments to the Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Property Act in Trinidad and Tobago. Video courtesy CCN TV6
The Amendments to the Procurement Legislation were passed in the lower House on Friday without the support of the Opposition United National Congress, and will be debated in the Upper House today. Prior to the debate, various Civil Society Groups and Business organizations have voiced concerns regarding particular elements to the amendments. We got another view in, Afra Raymond- Past President of the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry.
Courtesy TV6 Morning Edition
This is the post-budget webinar presented by the African Association Credit Union of T&T, hosted by Colvin Blaize (Licenced Land Surveyor & Attorney-at-Law). Other guests were Brian Manning MP, Minister in the Ministry of Finance & the Economy and Esric Huggins (Valuation Surveyor) who spoke on the Property Tax. I spoke on Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Property Act delays. Video courtesy AACTT
Afra Raymond did this interview on ‘Keeping it Real‘ on Synergy TV with Denice Ramdhan and Andy ‘Pitbull’ Williams to discuss the delay in finalising and implementing the new Public Procurement law. Video courtesy Synergy TV.
I participated in an online conference organised by the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute on Governance Practices in the State Sector with the specific focus on Public Sector Procurement. I spoke on Ensuring Transparency in the Procurement Process. Video courtesy the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute.
Dike Rostant interviewed Afra Raymond on the 2021 budget in which he covered the delay in proclaiming the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act; the Public Private Partnerships; the proposals for HDC housing (affordable?); the level of State rents and the fact that Information and Transparency are essential Public Goods. Video courtesy TTT
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, appointed a 22-member COVID-19 ‘Road to Recovery’ committee on 16 April 2020 to handle and advise on the path of the post-pandemic economic and social recovery. Afra Raymond discusses what he believes should be the priorities of this committee.
AfraRaymond.net 