National Council members insisted on exempting procurement of air tickets through tendering process. Council members cited examples where purchase of air tickets were much cheaper online.
The members expressed disappointment over the finance ministry’s response to its recommendations made in the previous session.
The ministry, in its response stated that exempting tendering processes for Air Tickets would lead to contradictions with the existing provisions of Procurement Rules and Regulations and would result in social outcry.
But Dagana MP Sonam Dorji said policies and regulations have to be changed, if it contradicts.
“The ministry also stated that doing so will set precedence. Our recommendation was not to out-throw ticketing agents. We made the recommendations comparing costs while purchasing any office items online and through tendering process. The recommendations were made in the interest of saving cost.”
The Council’s Chairperson, Sonam Kinga said purchasing tickets online is much cheaper.
“Last time when I and the members of parliament went abroad we consulted with the OAG on our resolutions of purchasing tickets online at cheaper rates in comparison to tender process. The Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General said they would support the idea if purchasing online is cheaper than tendering. So I purchased my air tickets online and it was cheaper and could save Nu 30,000 for the office. So we should reflect on whether we will be able to recognise the ministry’s response stating social outcry and existing ticketing agents going out of business.”
The council also presented follow-up reports on its recommendation of considering online prices as benchmarks to determine realistic prices for off-shelf office equipment such as computers, printers and toners.
