The report in Wednesday’s paper that Ombudsman Nilda Arduin has started a systemic investigation into the procurement process and management policy of Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company PJIAE as well as its application in practice may have led to some concern. After all, getting the airport back to a level where it can accommodate pre-Hurricane Irma passenger numbers is key to restoring the island’s tourism economy.
Work is currently taking place to put the ground floor of the terminal into use by next month for the upcoming high season, and substantial delays could be nothing short of disastrous. However, there is no reason to believe the now-announced probe would affect this ongoing project at least immediately.
On the other hand, especially a vital government-owned company needs to be transparent and fair in the way it contracts providers, remaining fully compliant with modern accountability rules for public entities. This case involves a certain “reputable longstanding service supplier” to PJIAE wanting to know why its tender bid had not been chosen.
The added problem is that requests for a copy of the procurement policy to view the selection criteria were basically denied by management, calling it an internal document. After the Ombudsman’s intervention there was what she called a “rather vague” response regarding alleged re-evaluation of the offers against the procurement policy and procedures.
The latter was apparently not satisfactory, hence the further inquiry. Granted, such an exercise at this time can be distracting when all efforts need to be focussed on getting the airport back in decent shape, but it’s also important that when investments are made on behalf of the country and its people as part of the recovery effort this is done correctly, in keeping with principles of propriety.
And as always, if no wrong was done there isn’t anything to worry about.
