By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Michael Pintard has pledged that, if elected, his administration will strictly enforce the Public Procurement Act — requiring all state-owned enterprises to publicly disclose their procurement procedures and any contracts awarded over $25,000.

Mr Pintard made the promise during his budget contribution in the House of Assembly last week, accusing the Davis administration of routinely ignoring procurement laws.

“They violate the old and they violate the new,” he said.

He claimed the government’s recent publishing of contracts was due to pressure from the opposition and international voices.

He singled out several major entities — including the University of The Bahamas, the Water and Sewerage Corporation, the National Insurance Board, the Public Hospitals Authority, and Bahamasair — for failing to publish their procurement guidelines or report contracts exceeding $25,000, as required by law.

Mr Pintard also criticised the Ministry of Tourism for its failure to meet the same standards, However, he said such lapses would not happen under an FNM administration.

“We will take immediate action proactively publishing key reports, granting easier access to information and ensuring that the public and press are empowered to scrutinize government action,” Mr Pintard said.

“Every state owned enterprise and public agency, of course, Ministry of Tourism, will be held to a new standard. We will require the public publications of quarterly financial disclosures, and we will enforce mandatory deadlines for the release of audited financials. No more hiding behind bureaucracy.”

“We will require all state owned enterprises to publish unaudited annual financials, and if and when the audits are delayed, we want you to move even faster to publish them.”