THE KHAN’T-DO LADY: PROCUREMENT REGULATOR STALLS

THEY refer to her as the Khan’t-do lady.

That is because Procurement Regulator Beverly Khan – whose official monthly financial package is around $85,000 – has no public record of positive action since her appointment a year ago.

That is despite several startling accounts from knowledgeable people about gross breaches in procurement regulations in the public sector.

Some reports tell of irregularities worth hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in the awarding of contracts.

In one matter, details were furnished last October about major deals, including contract-fixing, at the Secondary Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Company.

The Government recently shut down the company.

Insiders at the Office of the Procurement Regulation are distressed at the lack of achievement from the regulator and are wondering whether Ms. Khan is bogged down with official red tape.

After delaying passage of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act for years, the Government gutted most of its effective provisions.

Several areas of high-cost official spending are exempt from the regulator’s oversight.

Ms. Khan, appointed on June 28, 2023 for five years, replaced the outspoken and respected Moonilal Lalchan.

Lalchan said in 2020 that proper procurement practices could save the country at least $5.2 billion a year.

“The Government was uncomfortable with Lalchan in office,” an informed source said, “and waited until almost the expiry of his employment contract to bring the final draft of the law to Parliament.”

That led to the appointment of Ms. Khan, who was awarded a national honour three months later.

She was described as a “consummate professional,” who has “consistently delivered excellence in development planning and public policy formulation through her confident, highly-motivated and results-oriented approach.”

But even with that touted image, the annual report of the Procurement Regulator, due last December, has not been delivered.

“She has effectively stalled,” one concerned insider said.

Opposition parliamentarian Dr. Roodal Moonilal and the Joint Consultative Council of the construction industry have condemned the absence of the statutory report.

The report must include a summary of public procurement transactions of each public institution, and identify agencies that fail to comply with provisions of the legislation.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley last year said he was disappointed in the delay in the full implementation of the law.

But stakeholders and certain employees at the regulator’s office have commented that there is no public evidence that Ms. Khan’s appointment has made any difference.

“We refer to her as the Khan’t-do lady, with good reason,” an official stated.

They speculated on whether the regulator is facing pressure from certain senior Government officials in performing her public duties.

A Ministry of Finance report reveals that the regulator’s remuneration package includes $50,000 a month salary, with the provision of a vehicle valued up to $400,000.

There is a monthly housing allowance of $12,000, annual $3,000 security monitoring allowance, subsistence allowance for foreign travel, and telecommunications and medical facilities.

There are also provisions for an annual $118,000 education allowance, and $69,000 a year for overseas travel.

The regulator will receive 20 per cent of her gross salary as a gratuity.

She is also entitled to 20 days a year in annual vacation.  

The regulator is afforded a chauffeur with a monthly salary of $7,500.

Robby Bhola was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Office of Procurement Regulation.

Directors are Presbyterian cleric Rev. Joy Abdul-Mohan, Natasha Ashby, David Charlerie, Valerie Kelsick, Herdis Lee Chee, Tracy Rojas, Sparkle Kirk Selman, and Susan Torry.