NCC backs government

The National Contracts Commission (NCC) has given full support to Cabinet’s decision to exempt five public entities from certain established procurement procedures.



In a letter to Finance Minister Audley Shaw, the Chairman of the NCC Shirley Tyndall said the NCC offered no objection to the exemptions.



Cabinet intends to grant exemption for the procurement of certain goods to Air Jamaica, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica Vacations, the Port Authority of Jamaica and Petrojam.



However, the contractor general, Greg Christie has raised objections to the move.



He has charged that the exemptions are not in the interest of preserving fairness, transparency and accountability in the country’s procurement system.



Prime Minister Bruce Golding has explained that there are situations in which following the established procurement guidelines is not practical for the bodies for which the exemptions are proposed.



He further charged that it was not the responsibility of the contractor general to set the rules.



He has asked for the five entities to submit to him details of the procedure to be employed in their acquisition of goods and services.