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Police called in to Cuban Bulb scandal 
Tuesday, 06 November 2007 
The Fraud Squad has been called in to probe alleged irregularities in the Cuban light bulb distribution programme.
On Tuesday, the house was told of duplicate payments amounting to millions of dollars.
Minister Clive Mullings disclosed that the matter has also been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Kern Spencer, the former Junior Minister in the Ministry of Energy was placed in charge of the distribution programme wept as government members erupted in frenzy when Mr. Mullings sought to shed light on the issue.
Former Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell was absent.
Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller was among a few members who quickly went over to console Mr. Spencer.
At the same time the house was told of payments totaling one hundred million and fourteen million dollars had already been paid by the government through the Corporation of Jamaica, PCJ.
Mr. Mullings said eight five million dollars of that amount was paid to a company called Universal Management and Development Company Limited.
He told the house that the company was no registered as a contractor or a supplier with the national Contracts commission.
The Energy Minister said payments were received on presentation of itinerant.
Nine invoices totaling more than fifty million dollars, indicating that there were transportation, and a stipend for the Cuban volunteers.
The house reacted noisily when Mr. Mullings said that he met with Cuban authorities who stated unequivocally that the stipend for the Cuban volunteers was born by the Cuban Authorities.
The volunteers were reportedly provided by the requests of the Jamaican government to assist in the distribution and installation of which commenced in 2006.
Mr. Mullings said there is need to find out who in the government approved the over payment and to whom the Universal Management and Development Company Limited paid the stipend.
The Energy Minister said, "this raises serious concern and have certain implications and I've had to on the behave of the government of, to say to the Cuban Authority that we indeed cherish the that we have with them and will leave no un-turn to have this could removed and the situation dealt with."
Tuesday, 06 November 2007 The Fraud Squad has been called in to probe alleged irregularities in the Cuban light bulb distribution programme.On Tuesday, the house was told of duplicate payments amounting to millions of dollars.
Minister Clive Mullings disclosed that the matter has also been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Kern Spencer, the former Junior Minister in the Ministry of Energy was placed in charge of the distribution programme wept as government members erupted in frenzy when Mr. Mullings sought to shed light on the issue.
Former Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell was absent.
Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller was among a few members who quickly went over to console Mr. Spencer.
At the same time the house was told of payments totaling one hundred million and fourteen million dollars had already been paid by the government through the Corporation of Jamaica, PCJ.
Mr. Mullings said eight five million dollars of that amount was paid to a company called Universal Management and Development Company Limited.
He told the house that the company was no registered as a contractor or a supplier with the national Contracts commission.
The Energy Minister said payments were received on presentation of itinerant.
Nine invoices totaling more than fifty million dollars, indicating that there were transportation, and a stipend for the Cuban volunteers.
The house reacted noisily when Mr. Mullings said that he met with Cuban authorities who stated unequivocally that the stipend for the Cuban volunteers was born by the Cuban Authorities.
The volunteers were reportedly provided by the requests of the Jamaican government to assist in the distribution and installation of which commenced in 2006.
Mr. Mullings said there is need to find out who in the government approved the over payment and to whom the Universal Management and Development Company Limited paid the stipend.
The Energy Minister said, "this raises serious concern and have certain implications and I've had to on the behave of the government of, to say to the Cuban Authority that we indeed cherish the that we have with them and will leave no un-turn to have this could removed and the situation dealt with."
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