Plugging the loopholes

After a seven-year delay, authorities have begun soliciting opinions over detailed rules on how to implement the Government Procurement Law. It's better late than never, many might say. Indeed, the confusion, suspicion, and corruption resulted from the absence of such rules has been too costly.

But let's be honest - the law cannot be blamed for all that has gone wrong. Viewed independently, the law does not look that bad at all. On the very contrary, it appears sophisticated enough from a jurisprudential perspective.

The framework of the legislation should have served its supposed purpose - to regulate government procurement, improve investment efficiency, and, of course, prevent corruption - perfectly well.