Guyana Trades Union Congress Critical Of Position Adopted By Opposition On Establishment Of PPC

GEORGETOWN, Guyana CMC – The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has criticized the position adopted by the leader of the main opposition grouping here towards the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

“Constitutional requirements cannot be cherry-picked or dismissed at will. Doing this is in itself a violation of the Constitution,” said the GTUC pointing out that the PPC is a constitutional body and all stakeholders should seek to ensure its immediate enactment.

Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger, told a local newspaper that the opposition coalition, which includes the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), does not consider the PPC as a priority and also dismissed the notion of linking the body to government’s attempt to pass the amendments to the Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).

“The APNU as the lead opposition has a responsibility to this society to ensure good governance, accountability of public procurement, and holding government responsible for holding the Constitution sacred. Where government is failing, APNU must give voice and leadership to this nation to protect and defend the Constitution,” said GTUC.

The umbrella trade union said it was calling on the APNU to respect the Constitution and revisit its position on having the PPC activated.

“The time for doing this is now if the executive lacks the will to uphold the Constitution and safeguard the public against wanton waste and corruption,” the GTUC said, noting that it was also concerned over statements made by the head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon that the government would get the support of the APNU to make amendment to the PPC Act which would retain Cabinet’s say in awarding contracts, even though the legislation seeks to phase this out.

“This is dangerous and would continue the very practice the PPC sets out to halt, i.e. corruption,” GTUC said, adding that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill seeks to reinforce financial probity of the people’s resources, and of which the PPC is the precursor.

“That is the nexus to help Mr. Granger in his decision-making. Granger needs to be wary of his quality of decision-making that is becoming associated with APNU and the case of the Linden electricity issue being a recent scenario,” the GTUC said.