THE Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) Tuesday night expressed concerns about the announced changes to the public procurement process and its potential implications.

The Opposition, in a statement, acknowledged the need for streamlining procedures and using technology to aid in the county’s development; however, it said there are significant worries regarding the integrity and potential for fraud in this initiative.

Shadow minister for finance Julian Robinson said that allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds faced by the Government compound worries about the integrity of the procurement process and called for transparency in government operations, particularly in procurement.

“How can we, the citizens, trust a Government embroiled in integrity issues to manage procurement without proper checks and balances?” questioned Robinson. “This Government, which currently has six members under investigation by the Integrity Commission, raises serious doubts about their ability to manage procurement without adequate oversight.

“The Opposition, therefore, calls on the Government to outline the mechanisms that will be in place to ensure a smooth transition to the new public procurement process as well as publish all contracts exceeding $10 million, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability,” said Robinson.