Ministerial Address: “Implementing Sustainable Public Procurement” #ActionOverNoise

It is my honour to address you today on this occasion of World Sustainable Procurement Day under this timely and compelling global theme Action Over Noise, especially in this current economic climate where implementation is critical.

Understanding that fiscal discipline and value for money are imperative, sustainable procurement must be demonstrated through measurable outcomes and disciplined execution across the public service.

I commend the Office of Procurement Regulation for framing this forum as a practical, action‑oriented platform prioritising implementation over intention, focusing on the real systems, tools and decisions shaping how public resources are planned and spent.

Government’s Mandate & Development Context

As a government, protecting our environment and confronting the realities of climate change remain among our highest national priorities. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, as the central policy authority driving sustainable development in Trinidad and Tobago sets national direction, integrates policy across sectors and translates long‑term vision into actionable outcomes.

At the strategic level, the Ministry’s role is not simply to plan, but also to align, anticipate and enable. We ensure that national priorities are grounded in evidence, responsive to change and implemented through well‑coordinated systems that deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

This commitment is firmly anchored in the global sustainable development agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals call governments to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, and importantly, as part of this goal, we recognise the pivotal role of our public institutions in promoting sustainability through responsible public procurement practices, in accordance with Trinidad and Tobago’s national policies and priorities.

Through policy leadership and purposeful action, we are ensuring that public spending, planning and procurement decisions actively support environmental sustainability, economic resilience and long‑term national wellbeing.

The Sustainable Development Goals have designated certain indicators to measure the Number of countries implementing Sustainable Public Procurement policies and action plans.  I am pleased to say that Trinidad and Tobago trough the OPR has measures in place to achieve this target.

To demonstrate our commitment to sustainability in practical and measurable ways, the Government is taking deliberate action to align policy, financing and procurement decisions.

A key milestone has been the accreditation of the Environmental Management Authority as Trinidad and Tobago’s first Direct Access Entity to the Green Climate Fund, strengthening our national capacity to directly access and manage international climate finance in support of priority initiatives.

At the same time, in keeping with Government’s Policy we are advancing the electrification of public transport through a public–private partnership model which requires no direct government capital investment, delivers long‑term cost efficiencies and significantly reduces emissions.

Together, these actions reflect our intent to use public policy—and public procurement—not only to spend wisely, but to drive sustainable outcomes that improve air quality, reduce costs over time, and build a more resilient nation.

These tangible actions fall squarely within today’s agenda, which includes launching the General Guidelines on Sustainable Public Procurement and the first Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Toolkit which aligns with the national development goals of Trinidad and Tobago.

Sustainable Public Procurement as a Development Tool

Public procurement is a powerful instrument of government policy. It is through procurement that national priorities are translated into action, public resources are aligned with development objectives and leadership is converted into measurable results. When used strategically, procurement moves beyond process and compliance to become a driver of transformation delivering long‑term value to the people of Trinidad and Tobago through tangible social, economic and environmental benefits.

When procurement decisions are guided by clear policy direction, they cease to be transactional and instead become tools for change. In this context, the Sustainability Guideline and Toolkit being launched today are not merely guidance documents, they are practical building blocks in advancing our national development agenda and supporting more consistent, confident decision‑making across the public sector.

This reflects the Government’s continued commitment to build a nation that is sustainable, inclusive, forward‑thinking and resilient both in policy and practice.

Sustainable public procurement is therefore essential to translating development policy into real‑world outcomes. When aligned with long‑term national objectives and supported by whole‑of‑government coherence, it becomes a strategic lever for national development—capable of delivering environmental protection and social progress, while also ensuring fiscal sustainability and genuine value for money.

From Policy to Practice – #ActionOverNoise: Emphasise the need to move from commitments to practical, experience‑based approaches.

This government is moving decisively from commitment to delivery, from intention to implementation and from noise to results and Public procurement is one of the most powerful tools available to allow us to do so. But its true impact is realised not in policy documents alone, but also in practice.

Procurement reform succeeds only when clear policy direction is matched with practical, operational tools that empower procurers to act with confidence. Without that bridge between policy and practice, even the strongest commitments fall short. When we design procurement strategically, we strengthen markets, expand opportunity and deliver better value to the public.

Understanding that a sustainable economy does not happen by chance, we are building procurement systems that promote fair competition, encourage local supplier development and reduce over‑reliance on narrow and fragile supply chains.

Market readiness is therefore not optional, it is essential. Suppliers must be aware, capable and prepared to respond to sustainability requirements embedded in public contracts. That readiness does not emerge overnight; it requires clarity, early engagement and a shared understanding of expectations.

Sustainable procurement is not simply about managing contracts, it is about building markets. It is about supporting small and medium‑sized enterprises, unlocking innovation and ensuring that sustainability expectations are met with solutions that are viable, competitive and value‑driven.

And finally, resilience matters. Our supply chains must be designed to withstand disruption, adapt to change and continue delivering public value without systemic failure.

In closing I wish to commend the Office of Procurement Regulation, with the support of the Inter‑American Development Bank, for the deliberate and sustained efforts to integrate sustainability into public procurement practice in Trinidad and Tobago. Through these efforts the OPR has indeed positioned itself as a partner in Development and the Government is committed to supporting these initiatives.

This work reflects foresight, institutional leadership and a clear understanding that procurement reform must be both principled and practical.

However, frameworks and toolkits alone are not enough. Leadership plays a critical role in driving implementation. I therefore would like to impress upon Accounting Officers the importance of enabling procurement practitioners to apply sustainability and life‑cycle value approaches confidently and consistently in their decision‑making.

Accounting Officers occupy a pivotal role in this transformation. Your leadership ensures that sustainability is not treated as an optional add‑on, but as an integral component of value for money, fiscal responsibility and good governance. When leaders set the tone, systems respond.  When procurement is used strategically, the benefits are felt across our economy, our environment and our communities.

This is the standard we must hold ourselves to as stewards of public resources, as custodians of national policy and as leaders responsible for shaping a sustainable, inclusive, forward‑thinking and future‑ready Trinidad and Tobago.