Finance Minister calls for systems to allow for competitive and transparent procurement
- at Procurement and Contract Workshop
Georgetown, GINA, November 3, 2011
Source - GINA
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh delivering remarks at the opening of the workshop on procurement and contract audit at the Hotel Tower, Main Street
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh today urged local auditors to ensure that their companies employ systems that would allow for competitive and fair procurement that would in turn effect good business management.
The Minister was at the time speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on procurement and contract convened by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Guyana Chapter.
The forum is focusing on the importance of national tender board procedures, supply chain management, and the conduct of audits in the interest of value for money.
Minister Singh made reference to the far-reaching nature of the 2001 Constitutional Amendments as it relates to public accountability, transparency and openness in Government.
He explained that the changes introduced in 2001 include the establishment of standing sectoral committees of the Parliament such as the Economic Services, Natural Resources, Foreign Relations and the Social Services Committees.
“These committees have served as an extremely influential part of the governance and accountability landscape of our country,” the Finance Minister said.
He added that several Government Ministers and other officials have overtime, had to appear before the members of these committee to share documentation and other information such as plans, projections, vulnerabilities, and risks after which reports were tabled in the National Assembly.
The 2001 Constitutional amendments also enhance the independence of the Auditor General; in that, prior to the amendments, the AG’s report was submitted to the Finance Minister who then tabled the report in Parliament.
Today, the AG is empowered to submit his report directly to the Speaker of the National Assembly, who in turn tables it in Parliament.
“The independence of the AG’s Office was further enhanced by the removal of the traditional bureaucratic arrangements that existed before and the mandate of the Public Accounts Committee was enhanced by a specific Constitutional Article that gave it a mandate to exercise general oversight and supervision over the Audit Office,” the Minister further explained.
These reforms subsequently led to the passage of several comprehensive pieces of legislation that took accountability and transparency to a higher level in Guyana. These include the Public Procurement Act 2003, Audit Act 2004, and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.
This further led to the implementation of administrative reforms such as the establishment of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the implementation of standard bidding and contractual documents, computerization of the procurement administration process and public opening of tenders, which even the media, are encouraged to attend among others.
The Minister called on the auditors to ensure that the systems that exist within their organizations, match the range of reforms instituted by Government to improve public accountability.
“National competitiveness is at the center of good procurement which must be effected especially by the private sector which umbrellas companies that manage the funds of shareholders,” Minister Singh said.
This forum is the ninth seminar hosted by the chapter to better equip auditors with the necessary pros and cons to ensure more enhanced output from the auditing fraternity.
Also addressing the participants were Past President and current Board of Governor, IIA Guyana Chapter, John Seeram, President, IIA Guyana Chapter, Deodat Indar, and Caribbean District Representative, IIA International, Lucas Delgado.
- at Procurement and Contract Workshop
Georgetown, GINA, November 3, 2011
Source - GINA
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh delivering remarks at the opening of the workshop on procurement and contract audit at the Hotel Tower, Main StreetMinister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh today urged local auditors to ensure that their companies employ systems that would allow for competitive and fair procurement that would in turn effect good business management.
The Minister was at the time speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on procurement and contract convened by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Guyana Chapter.
The forum is focusing on the importance of national tender board procedures, supply chain management, and the conduct of audits in the interest of value for money.
Minister Singh made reference to the far-reaching nature of the 2001 Constitutional Amendments as it relates to public accountability, transparency and openness in Government.
He explained that the changes introduced in 2001 include the establishment of standing sectoral committees of the Parliament such as the Economic Services, Natural Resources, Foreign Relations and the Social Services Committees.
“These committees have served as an extremely influential part of the governance and accountability landscape of our country,” the Finance Minister said.
He added that several Government Ministers and other officials have overtime, had to appear before the members of these committee to share documentation and other information such as plans, projections, vulnerabilities, and risks after which reports were tabled in the National Assembly.
The 2001 Constitutional amendments also enhance the independence of the Auditor General; in that, prior to the amendments, the AG’s report was submitted to the Finance Minister who then tabled the report in Parliament.
Today, the AG is empowered to submit his report directly to the Speaker of the National Assembly, who in turn tables it in Parliament.
“The independence of the AG’s Office was further enhanced by the removal of the traditional bureaucratic arrangements that existed before and the mandate of the Public Accounts Committee was enhanced by a specific Constitutional Article that gave it a mandate to exercise general oversight and supervision over the Audit Office,” the Minister further explained.
These reforms subsequently led to the passage of several comprehensive pieces of legislation that took accountability and transparency to a higher level in Guyana. These include the Public Procurement Act 2003, Audit Act 2004, and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.
This further led to the implementation of administrative reforms such as the establishment of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the implementation of standard bidding and contractual documents, computerization of the procurement administration process and public opening of tenders, which even the media, are encouraged to attend among others.
The Minister called on the auditors to ensure that the systems that exist within their organizations, match the range of reforms instituted by Government to improve public accountability.
“National competitiveness is at the center of good procurement which must be effected especially by the private sector which umbrellas companies that manage the funds of shareholders,” Minister Singh said.
This forum is the ninth seminar hosted by the chapter to better equip auditors with the necessary pros and cons to ensure more enhanced output from the auditing fraternity.
Also addressing the participants were Past President and current Board of Governor, IIA Guyana Chapter, John Seeram, President, IIA Guyana Chapter, Deodat Indar, and Caribbean District Representative, IIA International, Lucas Delgado.
