Today in Parliament, I made the case that the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026 represents a serious weakening of the Office of Procurement Regulation.

The Government is removing critical layers of oversight and reducing the ability of the OPR to properly scrutinise how public money is spent.

This is not some minor administrative amendment. These changes go to the heart of the safeguards that were put in place to protect taxpayers, promote transparency and hold public bodies accountable.

At a time when Trinidad and Tobago should be strengthening oversight, the UNC Government is moving in the opposite direction.

We cannot allow the Office of Procurement Regulation to be rendered toothless.

Public money demands public accountability.

Watch my contribution to today’s debate.