GCCI raises concerns about Govt’s procurement practices

Concerns harboured by Guyana’s business community in regard to the health sector were recently highlighted when senior representatives of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) met with Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence.

GCCI President, Deodat Indar, accompanied by Vice President Timothy Tucker

and other senior officials, raised many issues at that meeting, ranging from concerns in regard to the importation of food and drugs, to procurement practices, to the GCCI representation on the Board of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

And GCCI Vice President Timothy Tucker, raising issues relative to the operation of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAF&D), lamented that following a previous meeting between the GCCI and the Director of Food and Drug, Marlan Cole, some issues were left unresolved.

Tucker noted that complaints were made by members of the GCCI about the uneven dispensation of the powers of the Office of the GAF&D Director, and indicated that the companies voicing their opinions on the matter later felt as though they were being targeted.

Minister Lawrence, in response, said, “The “buck stops with me.” She reassured the GCCI representatives that she is responsible for the Food and Drug Department and, as such, would be zooming in on matters emanating therefrom.

When Tucker raised the issue of revision of the regulations for the importation of goods, the minister consented for the GCCI to review the Food and Drugs Act and to make recommendations, along with other stakeholders. She even pledged that the Public Health Ministry would pursue the GCCI’s recommendation on matters that would have a negative impact on the business community.

While on the topic of public procurement practices, the president of the GCCI noted that complaints have been received from member companies that public procurement tendering for the provision of supplies was not done on a frequent basis, and he requested that suppliers be pre-qualified.

The minister, however, pointed out that the pre-qualification process would no longer be used, as the Public Health Ministry is currently redesigning the bidding process. She relayed that everyone who is bidding for a contract would have to go through the same process, and would be given a fair chance.

She noted that no system is perfect, but she promised that the Ministry of Public Health would be reviewing the process every six (6) months with a view to improving the system.

Indar also alluded to the impending Tobacco Control Bill, pointing out that the bill appears oversized. Responding, the minister noted that the bill would be tabled in Parliament on June 15, and she suggested that the GCCI submit their official comments in writing to her office.

The GCCI also requested that one of its members be afforded opportunity to sit on the Board of the GPHC. Justification advanced was that the private sector should be represented on many state boards. The minister was urged to consider this request. At the end of this encounter with the GCCI, Minister Lawrence pledged continued commitment to the country’s leading private sector body, and even suggested regular meetings on a quarterly basis.

The GCCI welcomed the opportunity to voice its concerns with the Public Health Ministry, and both parties agreed to review the highlighted matters within the next month.