Parliament approves tender law to increase transparency [Archives:2007/1072/Local News]
SANA'A, 27 July ) Last week the Yemeni parliament has ratified a new legislation to regulate government tenders and contracting awards after inserting some minor modifications. The new legislation aims at increasing transparency and limiting corruption involved at the corporate level where government tenders and awards are given without a bidding process, thereby facilitating under-the-table transactions between the business community and government officials.
The parliament has passed the law after eight months of study and deliberation, during which each one of the 114 articles within the legislation was discussed. The law is enforceable on all ministries and government agencies, with the exception of joint venture companies with the private sector, where the government owns a minority share.
The legislation also includes the formation of a Supreme Tenders Authority, to include seven persons from a list of fourteen personalities nominated by the consultative council to the President. The authority will be responsible for overseeing the execution of the legislation and look into any complaints or disputes that might arise as a result of the legislation.
However, if the authority detects any cases where the law has been violated, it will refer these cases to the Attorney General for prosecution. The law also includes instructions about forming a supreme committee for bidding affiliated to the cabinet, in order to act as an implementing and technical body in support of the supreme authority.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mr. Al-Arhabi stated that the legislation meets the international standards of transparency and is expected to be very effective in protecting public funds from corruption, he also said that the ratification of this legislation is a milestone for Yemen to prove, for it is serious about its reforms, and will curb around 70 percent of the existing corruption.
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