PM: Procurement Act was followed in choosing artist for Coat of Arms

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the selection of an artist to redesign the Coat of Arms was done in accordance with the provision of the Public Procurement and Public Disposal of Public Property Act.

He said the procurement law provides very clear provisions and regulations for single sole tendering in very specific instances, and Government expects that all State divisions will abide by the provisions of the law.

He indicated this during yesterday’s Parliament sitting in response to Opposition queries in the monthly segment of questions to the Prime Minister.

It was Rowley’s first appearance in Parliament for the new fifth session of the 12th Parliament. He was absent from the session’s launch last Friday as he was in the US since September 1 for a medical examination. Rowley returned earlier this week.

The Procurement Regulator’s recent report cited $5 billion in government contracts awarded under single/sole select methods and expressed concern about excessive use of limited and non-competitive procurement methods.

Yesterday, Opposition MP Davendranath Tancoo asked the Prime Minister whether Government intends to direct ministries, statutory authorities and State enterprises to utilise the competitive tendering award process instead of the single sole tendering process, “which appears to be wide spread as manifested in the Procurement Regulator’s report.”

Rowley replied, “The operative word there is ‘appears’. The Public Procurement and Public Disposal of Public Property Act provides very clear provisions in the act and regulations for single sole tendering in very specific instances.

“The Government expects that every ministry, statutory authority and State enterprises will abide by the provisions of the law.”

Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh asked if the process used by Government to select artist Gillian Bishop to redesign T&T’s Coat of Arms is in line with the Procurement Act.

Rowley said, “Having regard to Ms Bishop’s well-known and accepted standing and stature in the pantheon of national artists, she was selected to provide a design on T&T’s Coat of Arms to accommodate a change within the triangle to replace the Columbus’ ships with the steelpan. This was done in accordance with the provision of the Public Procurement and Public Disposal of Public Property Act.”

Detailing Bishop’s work, Rowley said she is considered one of the masters of her art form and the Government had no difficulty assigning her to this particular project.

On what Bishop’s engagement will cost taxpayers, Rowley said, “With respect to the commissioning of the design, we’ve not yet received the bill, but we expect it will be within the context of professional service.”

As for when Bishop will complete her exercise, Rowley said, “Soon.”

‘Proud record of fair elections’

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister responded to a question about whether international and regional observers would be invited to monitor the upcoming general election.

“Notwithstanding the best efforts of our (Opposition) colleagues, T&T preserves its proud record in conducting free and fair elections.”

He said elections are anticipated to be held sometime “in the not-too-distant future” and can be held as late as November 2025.

“It’s not a matter that’s before us at this time and notwithstanding the best efforts of our colleagues and in the event of any consideration for the invitation of personnel/agents from the outside, that will come in the appropriate time when it is reasonable to have that a priority,” he added.

The Prime Minister also revealed the ANR Robinson International Airport terminal in Tobago is 74 per cent complete and payments to date to the main contractor total US$65 million.

Rowley said the payments to the main contractor don’t include the land acquisition cost of approximately $300 million which was paid at an earlier time.