The Integrity Chamber has completed an investigation into the execution of bidding procedures for concessions at the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE). The investigation was initiated to determine PJIAE’s compliance to the applicable legislative framework and the probability of a misconduct occurring during the execution of pharmacy and supermarket concessions in 2023.
Following a review of the applicable legislative framework (regulations, policies and procedures etc.), the Integrity Chamber determined that PJIAE was partially compliant with the legislative framework in the awarding of the supermarket and pharmacy concessions in 2023. While mistakes were made, no misconduct occurred as defined by the National Ordinance Integrity Chamber during the pharmacy and supermarket concessions conducted in 2023.
The investigation further revealed that:
- There was a lack of transparency and fairness during the RFP process.
- Insufficient due diligence contributed to RFP conditions that did not fully comply with legal standards.
- The organisation’s hierarchical structure and internal culture contributed to challenges in communication, accountability, and compliance to internal policies and procedures.
The Chamber advised the following to improve compliance.
These recommendations include:
- Improve transparency and communication in the bidding process.
- Strengthen procurement policies and procedures to ensure that it aligns with best practices.
- Reduce errors by improving due diligence in the execution of concessions, ensuring that all RFPs are developed or thoroughly reviewed by qualified experts.
- Clarify roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders and the boundaries within which they must operate.
The Integrity Chamber trusts that the above recommendations will assist PJIAE in improving compliance with integrity-related policies and procedures and applauds the fact that PJIAE is already in process of updating and enhancing its internal procurement policy and procedures.
For more information on the work of the Integrity Chamber, visit the website at www.integritychamber.sx.
