The House of Representatives approved the final amendments made by the Senate to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2023.
In a sitting on Monday afternoon, the House passed the motion to approve the amendments by a vote of 19 to 8 as all opposition MPs who were present in the Parliament, rejected the Senate’s amendments.
The amendments grant greater scrutiny of the Office of Procurement Regulator (OPR) in procurement matters and allow for regulations to be made for the approval of contracts up to a sum of one million dollars.
With the House approval, the Senate’s amendments to the bill will now go to President Christine Kangaloo for asset and will subsequently be proclaimed into law.
The Senate’s amendments—to Clauses Three and Five—mainly changed the wording from the minister being “in consultation with” the Office of the Procurement Regulator on making exemption orders on services, to “being in agreement” with the Office of Procurement Regulator. It removed the minister’s power, making it subordinate to the OPR.
Attorney General, Reginald Armour said very sensible amendments were proposed in the Senate and were accepted by Government.