The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has affirmed that always, its actions complied with the Public Procurement Act.
The assertion is in response to a latest report from the Auditor Normal, which detailed that the ministry’s recurrent appropriation accounts for the interval ending March 31, 2022 revealed a number of essential points impacting monetary administration and compliance.
The AG’s report was tabled in Parliament final week.
In keeping with the report, the ministry didn’t present proof that the procurement committee met and reviewed suggestions for the award of contracts/procurement of products and providers totalling $868.85 million, as mandated by Part 2.2.5.1 of the Authorities’s Procurement Tips.
In a launch this morning, the ministry assured that its actions have been compliant with the Procurement Act.
The ministry famous that the audit report pertains to the 2021/2022 monetary 12 months, a interval throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on bodily conferences have been in impact in line with the Catastrophe Danger Administration (Enforcement Measures).
The Agriculture Ministry stated Part 2.2.5.1 of the procurement pointers permits for using a “spherical robin” strategy by procurement committees in conditions of urgency.
It acknowledged that this provision was relied upon throughout the interval in query and is identical part referenced by the Auditor Normal within the report.
The ministry additionally stated procurement committee conferences have been held just about and have been recorded.
Nonetheless, whereas minutes have been taken, they have been inadvertently not downloaded and archived earlier than being overwritten on the system.
It stated however this, it persistently offered all requested data to the Auditor Normal as a part of its governance accountability to stay clear and compliant.
The ministry famous that the roughly $870 million referenced within the report was expended to bona fide contractors and there was no allegation of malfeasance.
The ministry sought to make clear that the referenced procurements have been executed in full compliance with procurement legal guidelines and that every one sources have been documented correctly, reviewed and authorised and the requisite contracts have been legally in place.
It stated it stays totally dedicated to compliance with all acts of presidency, rules, insurance policies and pointers governing procurement and using public funds.
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