FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson
MP, East Grand Bahama
The Opposition acknowledges the report in The Nassau Guardian of September 20, 2023, regarding approximately $10 million in contracted works for improvements to the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.
We have been unable to locate any bid invitations related to these $10 million worth of projects on the government’s procurement portal.
The Government must address the following questions in accordance with their promise of transparency and accountability:
- Who is providing the funding for this project? Is it funded by Bahamian taxpayers or an international entity?
- Which government agency or authority has management and financial oversight of the project?
- Who are the contracted parties responsible for this project, and what are the values of their respective contracts?
If the project funding comes from allocations under the management control of a government agency or the National Sports Authority, then the relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Acts of 2021 and 2023 must have been followed:
- – Where were the bidding opportunities listed on the government procurement portal?
- – If they were not listed, the government must explain why it violated the law in awarding these contracts.
- – Was there a competitive bidding process?
- – Did the matter go before the Public Procurement Board?Why has the Government bypassed the law, preventing Bahamians from having the opportunity to benefit from this $10 million project?This is typical PLP behavior, where their arrogance often leads them to the misguided belief that they do not owe Bahamians a full accounting on matters related to public assets.
September 22, 2023