Political influence has usually undermined the Government’s procurement process, especially the tendering process, says the leaders of two prominent political parties in Fiji.

The legal basis for procurement is detailed in the Procurement Regulations 2010 under the Financial Management Act. The Act gives the Minister for Finance the privilege of intervening in the procurement process.

Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry strongly believe the Act needs to be reviewed.

They are urging the coalition Government to amend the legislation to remove the discretion of the Minister to ensure a transparent process, and the following of the right technical conditions.

“There is always a risk of political interference in the tender process, particularly in countries which rank high on the corruption index – Fiji is a case in point,” Mr Chaudhry said.

“It is usually the businessmen with political connections who set the ball rolling. Sadly, business ethics in Fiji is remarkably poor.”

Transparency International, in its 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranked Fiji at 53 out of 180 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption.

Mr Narube said the political intervention was normally because of special circumstances.

“In the case that the Minister intervenes, it is because his political friend is tendering, that’s not allowed, that’s a big conflict of interest,” he said.

“Many times, they may not be in the Auditor-General’s report, but people know it that this guy has the favour of Government, has been tendering and being awarded.”

Tendering is limited to the process of going to the external market with certain specifications with the intent to collect, analyse and nominate bids.

Procurement is defined as the whole process of acquiring goods and services by agencies. It accounts for such a large slice of economic activity. It is the riskiest area in Government.

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Story by: ivamere.nataro@fijisun.com.fj