Contract Bidding Overhaul

Government is overhauling its system of bidding for and awarding the 1.6 billion dollars in contracts it issues annually, promising a system that’s more modern, fair and transparent.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Senator Dr. Shantal Monro-Knight has led off debate in the Senate on the Public Procurement Amendment Bill.

Senator Dr. Munro-Knight says it’s essential that the public has confidence in the way contracts are awarded.

At the same she stated that the 2022 corruption index rates Barbados as the least corrupt country in the Caribbean.

Meantime, an independent Senator wants government to take steps to ensure that events such as the Barbados vaccine debacle do not happen again.

Senator Dr. Kristina Hinds, a university of the West Indies political science lecturer and radio talk show host, also wants an end to the perception that certain groups of people predominantly benefit from the awarding of government contracts.

She was speaking as the Senate debated the Public Procurement Amendment Bill which seeks to overhaul the system of bidding for the 1.6 billion dollars in government contracts awarded annually