E-Procurement can Strengthen Integrity
As Barbadians become more aware of the island’s inadequate national integrity system, pressure is mounting on government to remedy its deficiencies. With numerous and lucrative contracts issued by government and the potential for corruption during this process, public procurement is an area that must be highly prioritized. Public procurement is prone to corruption due to the large sums of money at stake; a process that often lacks transparency and that is susceptible to political interference. These vulnerabilities can cost taxpayers millions, negatively impact our international reputation, and undermine development. It is on these bases that government should institute the appropriate measures that can ensure corruption in public procurement is restricted.
The benefits of E-procurement
The availability of information technologies in Barbados remains a generally untapped resource that can reduce corruption through the use of electronic procurement. In various countries, e-procurement has increasingly been used in the tendering of contracts, the public allocation of contracts to bidders, the promotion of integrity, easier access to information, and increased transparency and accountability. In this context, e-procurement has the capacity to reduce the opportunities for corruption at different stages of the procurement process.
E-procurement is the use of information and communication technologies such as Internet based systems in government tendering. One of its major benefits is the degree of transparency that it can provide. A high degree of transparency is an effective deterrent to corruption in public procurement as it can provide sufficient information and visibility. Transparency can frustrate instances where senior public officers may publically hide, but privately disclose, confidential information, or add additional specifications to projects that undermine a fair bidding process. To address these concerns, e-procurement allows a wide variety of stakeholders like the public, the media and civil society, to scrutinize public officials’ and contractors’ decisions and performances. This is achieved through monitoring all procurement requirements, activities and other related information via the Internet.
Standardized process needed
This stakeholder oversight must aided by standardized e-tendering and e-bidding requirements through the provision of an integrated e-procurement portal. The use of standardized e-procurement procedures could assist with evaluating contract bidding and awarding processes, by increasing predictability, familiarity and easy access to information. This can also obstruct attempts by officials to fix contracts, manipulate biding requirements and favor particular suppliers for their personal gain.
Contractor General needed
Despite its benefits, the introduction of an e-procurement system alone is unlikely to fully address the inadequacies in the procurement system. As such, Barbados will need to institute additional legal frameworks to ensure that the potential benefits of e-procurement in terms of reducing corruption are maximized. Further, public awareness initiatives to develop strong civic oversight and the creation of independent enforcement bodies that utilize the available information to investigate, punish and restrict instances of corruption will also be required.
For instance, the discretionary powers granted to government minsters that allow contracts to be approved directly by cabinet which could potentially jeopardize the integrity of the tendering process, is a matter that e-procurement cannot solve on its own. Therefore, the introduction of offices likes the Contractor General is necessary to lesson concerns about corruption and abuse. The aim of a Contractor General is to ensure the awarding of government contracts is an external, independent and impartial operation, sheltered from the potentially self-motivated and political inclinations of government ministers. Through the Contractor General, self-serving interest can be reduced since the monitoring, awarding and the implementation of contracts are their responsibility.
Good governance and anti-corruption measures can be assisted and enhanced by the introduction of an e-procurement system. Regionally, territories like Jamaica have recognized this, and have launched and lauded the benefits of their e-procurement program. Barbados should follow Jamaica’s example and explore enhancing its national integrity system through the introduction of e-procurement.