1. We the undersigned call on the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to REPEAL THE PROCUREMENT AMENDMENT ACT of 2020 and Restore the Public Procurement and Disposal of Property Act 1 of 2015 in its ORIGINAL FORM
2. This was the most important instrument to fight corruption in the history of Trinidad and Tobago and We, the Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, respectfully DEMAND that its integrity be kept.

Explanation (PLEASE READ):

"Procurement" is really just a fancy way of saying "Giving out contracts".

Governments giving out contracts has been the biggest source of corruption since Independence and before.

Around the world, contracts have been used to hand out billions of taxpayer dollars to friends, families and financiers, while Government officials receive kickbacks.

No country in which corruption flourishes can prosper. Furhermore, it is the poor who suffer most from the negative impact of corruption.

In 2015, after a long struggle, the most powerful tool to prevent corruption in the history of Trinidad and Tobago was created: The Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act 1 of 2015.

One final step was needed to put the law into effect, but the Government changed in 2015 and it was not able to be passed in Parliament.

The new Government of Dr. Keith Rowley and Colm Imbert promised to implement the Procurment Act since 2015, but they never did.

Instead in 2020, they introduced a "Procurement Amendment".

This changed, gutted, and "emasculated" the law. The amendement removed the most important Government contracts from the Act: contracts between Governments, or were deemed to be financial or legal, or simply "other" as determined by the Government.

Virtually the entire population was outraged and felt betrayed, including business organisations, trade unions, professional organisations, community groups, activists and others.

The Government seems to have got its way, but we the Citizens must show them that we object!