Cancellation of the Tahiti Pearl Consortium Procedure: Victory for Pearl Industry Professionals
By Sandrine, Thursday 13 December 2012 at 10:16 :: Legislation
The Administrative Court of Papeete delivered its ruling this morning in favor of pearl industry professionals, annulling the procedure for awarding the service contract between the Maison de la Perle and international consultant Gaetano Cavalieri.
This decision follows an injunction filed by the collective “Touche pas à ma Perle”, which raised major concerns about the absence of a public call for tenders, competitive bidding, and prior publicity — requirements that are mandatory for the awarding of a public contract.
The Syndicate of Tahitian Cultured Pearl Dealers and the GIE Tahiti Pearl Auction, both parties to the legal proceedings, prevailed in their case. The court ordered the Maison de la Perle to pay 150,000 XPF in damages to these professionals in recognition of the harm suffered.
This annulment calls into question the entire process of creating the Tahiti Pearl Consortium, an ambitious project aimed at revitalizing the pearl industry. As a result, if the Maison de la Perle wishes to pursue this project, it must now comply with public procurement rules by issuing a formal call for applications, in accordance with the court’s decision.