The Public Service Commission states that the recent policy directive issued on hardware purchases does not necessarily mean that the government will not buy at all from the four companies concerned.

PSC had last week issued a directive that no hardware supplies are to be purchased from RC Manubhai, Vinod Patel, Kasabia and Carpenters Hardware until further notice unless approved by the Minister for Finance Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Permanent Secretary for PSC, Parmesh Chand said government ministries, departments and agencies can still liaise with the four companies and obtain the required quotation for competitive pricing.

Chand said if any purchases are to be effected, referrals need to be made to the Minister for Finance on a case by case basis for his consideration and approval.

He said there is nothing abnormal in this and for the time being decisions will not be made in isolation but be centralized with the Minister for Finance.

Chand said the four companies have been singled out because they are the dominant players in the market.

He also said the government has decided to effect its purchases in a controlled manner in this instance given the work currently undertaken by the Commerce Commission on prices of hardware supplies in the market.

Story by: Vijay Narayan