Christie bemoans limited powers

GREG CHRISTIE has complained yet again to Parliament that he is unable to fully discharge his functions as contractor general because he has limited powers.

Addressing a joint select committee of Parliament, which is considering the recently tabled report of the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), Christie likened himself to a dog with only a loud bark.

"I can't bite; I can just bark and make a lot of noise," he lamented.

He told the parliamentary committee that he had been asked to ensure that government contracts and licences are awarded impartially and on merit, but the fact that he does not have the ability to stop the procurement from going forward when investigations are ongoing is inimical to him discharging his duties.

"You give me a little knife to cut down a forest," Christie said.

The OCG is currently before Parliament with a report containing a slew of recommendations on how to strengthen the role of the contractor general.

"You are asked to ensure that $90 billion worth of expenditure is conducted in a manner which can be tested in terms of proprietary, regularity, probity, lack of corruption, skulduggery, that sort of thing. But these are the only tools you gave to ensure that this is done," Christie told Parliament.

The OCG has 12 inspectors and three investigators who monitor the award of government contracts. Some 11,800 contracts which are over $275,000 were awarded by Government last year.

Services, goods, and works contracts above $275,000 must be subjected to competitive bidding according to government procurement guidelines.