In March 2025, Jamaica’s Senate passed the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act 2025 with the aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government procurement processes. The legislation introduces significant changes, including clarification of approval methods and value thresholds, elimination of sector committees, and the incorporation of competency levels in procurement. These reforms are intended to address fundamental conceptual gaps in the existing law, promoting greater transparency and efficiency in the country’s public purchasing system.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Aubyn Hill, noted that the original 2015 law had proven difficult to implement, resulting in delays and obstacles in the acquisition of goods and services by government entities. Hill added that the general perception was that the legislation had been rooted in a distrust of Jamaicans, unnecessarily complicating procurement procedures.

Senate Opposition Leader Peter Bunting supported the amendments, emphasizing the need to eliminate bureaucratic delays and administrative bottlenecks across the government system. Bunting also advocated for strengthening e-procurement systems to enable faster and more transparent bidding processes.

– March 18, 2025 –

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