Inaccurate statements about Procurement Commission

Dear Editor,
The Public Procurement Commission (the Commission) has noted several inaccurate and misleading statements about the work of the Commission published in the media recently.
The Commission takes this opportunity to remind the public of the important role of the Commission in promoting the highest standards of public procurement of goods, services, and the execution of works.
The Commission was established under Articles 212 W, X, Y and Z of the Constitution, and is required to carry out its work independently, in a manner consistent with the fundamental principles of fairness and impartiality, as enshrined in the Constitution.
The Commission works in a collaborative manner, which affords all members equal opportunity to participate fully in its work; and this is exactly what transpired in the recently concluded investigation of the procurement of emergency drugs by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The Commission did not delegate any aspect of the work of the GPHC investigation to any individual commissioner. The five commissioners worked collectively throughout the process of the investigation, and were, at all times, all fully aware of the contents of the final report, to which they all contributed and were all also afforded the opportunity to sign.
It should also be noted that the Commission comprises five commissioners, who each took an oath of confidentiality in respect of the conduct of the GPHC investigations, and as such, it would be inappropriate and in breach of that oath for any commissioner to discuss, at this time, the specific details of the findings and recommendations relating to the investigation.
The atmosphere of deliberations during the work of the Commission has been one of mutual respect and courtesy, albeit there have been vigorous discussions and healthy debate, as one would expect from a group of mature professionals who are all fully qualified and experienced in their respective areas of expertise (procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters). Unlike what was reported, there has been no instance of acrimony, where any commissioner was threatened with being fired, since all the commissioners are fully knowledgeable of the Articles of the Constitution under which the Commission was established, and the provisions relating to appointment and removal of commissioners.
Also, contrary to sections of the media, the Commission has not “hurriedly scrambled” to formulate rules barring commissioners from speaking to the press. The Commission has crafted no rule that states that commissioners cannot speak to the press.
As it relates to the most recent investigation into the procurement of emergency drugs by the GPHC, the Commission reiterates that its formal report has already been submitted to the National Assembly, and no further comment will be made on this matter until the National Assembly has an opportunity to consider it. At that time, the Commission will, if necessary, make a full statement about the conduct of this investigation and the persistent misinformation being peddled in the public domain.
The Commission, as an independent body, will stoutly resist any external efforts to direct and control its work. The Commission will continue to execute its mandate without fear or favour, and remain above partisan politics. Any attempt to use the Commission’s work to satisfy any specific political agenda will be rejected.

Sincerely,
Public Procurement
Commission