Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says the Constitution does not mandate that there must be Public Procurement Units at each state agency, as suggested by the Opposition.

Speaking in the Lower House on Wednesday, Dr. Rowley said  existing personnel can be assigned responsibility for public procurement and the disposal of public property at their relevant agency.

“Madame Speaker, Section 61 of the Public Procurement Act of 2015 simply states for the purpose of this Act, a public body shall have a public officer who shall be responsible for public procurement and the disposal of public property for that body and shall notify the Office in writing, of the name and designation of the procurement officer.  This function can be performed by Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, CEOs and other suitable heads of departments or senior officers within Ministries, statutory bodies and State enterprises,” the PM said.

He said additional staff for this function will be sought only on a needs basis.

Asked by the Opposition when the position of Procurement Regulator would be filled given the passage of the new legislation, the PM said that appointment falls under the remit of the President.

Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute welcomes government’s full passage of the long-awaited Public Procurement legislation, saying while curtailing the tide of corruption is no easy feat, the step is a move in the right direction towards good governance, transparency and accountability in public expenditure.