The Fiji Procurement Office is due for reforms to deal with problems identified in recent years.

National Planning Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says there is too much red-tape which makes it difficult to effectively manage the purchase of goods or even the awarding of tenders.

“There is a general market perception –at until a few years ago, that you can hoodwink government people. It’s also a well-known fact that some people get taken out for lunches, some get mobile phones. It’s a well-known fact. We don’t want government to have that kind of image where people think they can hoodwink the government where we can give them the bottom price and then we have our way.”

Sayed-Khaiyum says a recent study by consultants from Australia has also identified Bureaucratic issues which prevent efficiency and transparency.

These will be dealt with in the coming year.

The Fiji Procurement Office is responsible for all government purchases and tenders worth over $50,000.