Kaieteur News recently reported that Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan “explained that with the watchdog entity- the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) inoperable ‘super contracts’ are being given away to companies with no prior experience in construction, in violation of the Procurement Act of 2003. In fact, the former Minister said a glaring anomaly is that the Chairman of National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Tarachand Balgobin also serves as the Director of Projects.”
The publication in a recent scathing Peeping Tom column, ‘A conflict of interest exists‘ agreed with Jordan outlining that the litmus test of a conflict of interest is the historic ‘Pinochet’ case. “The case in effect turned on the mere appearance of bias which was sufficient to taint the first hearing. There was no need to establish that there was any actual bias. The mere appearance or likelihood of bias was sufficient to establish a conflict of interest,” the Editorial stated.
“The international financial institutions, particularly the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank should withhold the disbursements of all loans and grants until such time as the existing conflict of interest is remedied.”
More, In The Ring.
