THE John Uff-chaired Commission of Enquiry into the construction sector, which began on Tuesday, could have been avoided if ’public procurement reform’ was implemented by the Government, secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI), Boyd Reid, says.

Reid made the statement during a telephone interview with the Express, as his organisation reflected on its reduced plans for International Anti-Corruption Day, which was commemorated on Tuesday.

’A lot of corruption could have been prevented or at least reduced. We (TTTI) are not charging any organisation with corruption, but the reality is that State enterprises are being allowed to operate without proper checks and balances,’ Reid said.

’We might not have even needed to conduct a Commission of Enquiry into the construction sector if the procurement reform was implemented.’

In 2005, a Green Paper, entitled ’The Procurement Policy Vision’, called for a total revamping of the process to ensure every single government-awarded contract passes a stringent three-pronged test.

The procurement reform stated that before being signed off, each contract must provide absolute value for money; utmost transparency and strict accountability of all participants.

Today, some three years after the 50-page document was released by the Central Bank, the procurement reform is still to implemented, Reid added.

’We need to set up an office for an independent regulator, with the power to investigate, and ensure the adherence to necessary checks and balances,’ Reid said.

He said now more than ever, these types of regulations were needed.

’Corruption is the root cause of the current global financial crisis,’ Reid said.

’We saw firsthand how unregulated operations, removal of regulations and abuse of entrusted power for private gain caused tremendous damage to society.’

Reid said both public and private organisations should ensure that anti-corruption regulations are implemented in their organisations, in the same manner that health and safety measures are enforced.

Any individual or organisations seeking to become a member of the TTTI, the local arm of Transparency International (TI), can visit the organisations website www.transparency.org.tt, Reid said.