00:00Economist and former UNC Minister Taharika Obika says the government's push to overhaul
00:06the procurement framework comes at a time when the economy is already under pressure
00:11and he questions whether government's proposed changes are the right response.
00:17The 3.4 billion dollars in housing projects was blanked by the OPR based on procedural
00:25irregularities among other things and the government responds instead of improving the process
00:31and responding positively to the to the demands of the OPR they basically scrap the OPR's power entirely
00:41entirely this is given whoever has a nefarious thought a license to steal. Obika tells the
00:52morning edition the proposed changes could reduce the OPR's ability to intervene when procurement
00:58decisions are challenged raising questions about how much independent scrutiny will remain over the
01:06use of public funds. Obika says his concerns extend beyond procurement
01:35government arguing that government's approach is creating a climate in which citizens may feel
01:41increasingly reluctant to speak freely or challenge decisions. So people even want to call their own
01:48shadow to express their opinion on the government because they're afraid to make a jail for expressing
01:56their opinion or their concern. And that that has that this government has successfully cut out dissent
02:07from the population of Trinidad. So we're not free to talk again it's not a free country anymore
02:13thanks to the actions of the current administration. Nicole M Romany, TV6 News.
