PM Briceño says Central Procurement Unit key to Strengthening Government Oversight

Prime Minister Briceno says the proposed Central Procurement Unit is another key safeguard being put in place to prevent a repeat of the concerns now being raised in connection with government payments involving the Mira family.  Speaking to the media this morning, he explained that the unit would bring greater oversight and consistency to government procurement by centralizing the process through a specialized body, rather than leaving ministries and departments to independently manage major purchases and contracts.  The Prime Minister says the new structure is intended to strengthen accountability, improve compliance with the Stores Orders and Financial Orders, and ensure that government contracts are subjected to proper review before public funds are committed.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “On the 14th of July we are going to present a project that we have been working through our ministry, through the Central Execution Unit. We’re coming up with what we call a Central Procurement Unit. It is a project we’ve been working with at IDB and looking at the how other countries have been doing procurement for their country successfully. In short, what will happen is that there’s going to be an electronic window so that every ministry will be required or compelled by law that they have to put it there to the public. So if the BDF wants tenders it has to go to the public. If they want to buy anything under $10,000, whatever, it has to go out there in the public to say we’re buying so. There has to be openness and transparency and accountability. I think that that’s going to transform things. But also, I believe that we’ll be able to save money. Why do I say that? Well, because right now, different ministries buy from different vendors and there’s generally a 20% discount and in many instances the government does not get that 20% discount or 10% whatever discount that they get when they buy. But if we are going to be doing through this centralized unit, for instance, different ministries have to buy computers. Under this central procurement unit vendors are going to be identified that who meet the qualifications to be able to provide these computers. So then whenever a ministry wants to buy they go through that portal and then be able to buy from the companies that have already been certified. And so whatever reduction that they give then it’s the Government of Belize that’s going to be getting that. So that is just one instance. And there are different layers of reporting. There’s going to be a unit or a committee that sets the rules, then a committee that reviews what is taking place, and then the third one that will be then doing the actual auditing that everything is going to be. It is going to be a game changer in the way government procures goods and services.”