BELIZE CITY, Wed. Dec. 8, 2021– During Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, the 19th Contractor General’s report was tabled. This report reviews 585 contract awards totaling $153 million in value over the past year. It is the first report to be published by Contractor General Omar Mitchell since he took office back in 2020.

The report, in summary, highlights 5 allegations of improper conduct and 10 contract rejections for reasons such as inaccuracy, contract incompatibility, and lack of verification. It also noted that twenty-two (22) source tendering contracts were sent back for Open tendering and approximately 210 requests for amendments were made to drafted contracts.

The understaffed office of the Contractor General has the responsibility of overseeing and vetting all government contracts. This report highlights some serious transparency issues and a dire need for a Corruption Perception Index in Belize.

The report states, “Unlike most other nations, Belize is hampered by not having a CPI to refer to when allocating a transparency data point.”

It adds, “The CPI must be viewed within the context that GoB is anxious to expedite outstanding work, especially projects that have a high economic impact. However, because Belize is ‘pregnant’ with such major transparency issues, it’s more incumbent that any attempt to circumvent good practices be avoided. There is no substitute for decency, and the public perceived good governance.”

In the wake of the issuance of the report, the Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform, Hon. Henry Usher, acknowledged the need for more transparency but attributed blame for the deficiencies in this area of governance to the previous UDP administration which, he said, failed to put in place these oversight mechanisms.

“That’s a damning indictment on the previous administration that not only was there no transparency index, but they almost, you know, prevented Transparency International from even coming into Belize and doing its work. So I think the Contractor General is on point there,” Minister Usher remarked to local media.

The CPI is an index that ranks countries on the basis of the apparent levels of public sector corruption in those nations; according to online sources, it typically defines corruption as an abuse of entrusted power for private gain.

As mentioned, during the period covered by the recently issued Contractor General’s report, 585 contracts were awarded. The Ministry of Health and Wellness approved the bulk of these contract awards: a total of 213 contracts totaling 42 million dollars in value. While this increase in healthcare contracts may be indicative of the ongoing pandemic, it must be noted that recent reports have pointed to a number of shortfalls, particularly in the provision of supplies, at the national referral hospital, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH).

Also, according to the Contractor General’s Report, the Infrastructure Development and Housing Ministry awarded 78 contracts worth approximately 28 million dollars in total. During the period covered by the report, the new PUP administration was tasked, immediately after their landslide victory in November 2020, with doing restorative works to address the massive road damage countryside that was caused by historic floods.

And while a CPI is still not in place, more than a year later, Minister Usher says that a new Good Governance Unit is in the making.

“In terms of the ministry that I have the portfolio of, the Constitution and Political Reform, we’re putting together a good governance unit. That unit should be in place very soon, and that unit will be dealing with all of these issues having to do with anti-corruption, having to do with transparency, having to do with UNCAC, having to do with anything having to do with constitution and reform, and so on. So that unit should be in place soon and that will be the focal point for all of these issues.” Minister Usher said.

The Contractor General’s report makes no direct mention of any impropriety, but uses strong language which suggests serious inconsistencies within the governmental process. Along with urging that the office be made independent of government interference, the report stated, “There is a quick and decisive way to address the issue of irregular procurement. The answer is the regularization of the process. The current arrangement is fraught with problems and is weak in ensuring good governance”