No fraud in bulb project - PNP report

[Mosiah]

Kern can cry tears of joy ... for now - No fraud in bulb project - PNP report
published: Monday | November 12, 2007

Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter



The People's National Party (PNP) review committee has found that there was no fraud in the controversial Cuban light bulb programme.

"It is obvious that there are certain procedures that were not followed with respect to the implementation of the programme," the PNP's general secretary Donald Buchanan told The Gleaner yesterday. "But on that matter (fraud), we found no evidence."

Buchanan stated further that he saw no reason why former ministers of the PNP administration, Kern Spencer and Phillip Paulwell, should worry.

Enormous cost

Both Spencer and Paulwell, now Opposition Members of Parliament, became embroiled in controversy over the distribution of free energy-saving light bulbs after Clive Mullings, the Energy Minister, told Parliament that the implementation of the light-bulb project had come at enormous cost to the country.

Mullings disclosed that it had cost more than $276.5 million to distribute the light bulbs, which were donated by the Cuban Government as part of efforts to cut Jamaica's growing energy bill.

More than $49 million was spent to transport, house and provide stipends to Cuban volunteers, who Mullings said were already given a stipend by the Cuban Government. The volunteers came to Jamaica at the invitation of the previous political administration.

But though Spencer and Paulwell are off the hook internally, they face their sternest test in broad-based national investigations.

Mullings last week informed Parliament that the police Fraud Squad was probing the matter. The Contractor General and Auditor General were subsequently called in to investigate the distribution of the light bulbs. The Director of Public Prosecutions was also asked to undertake proceedings into a matter which Mullings said "raises questions of fraud".

Prevented from responding

Spencer, who had direct responsibility for the project, cried in Parliament last Thursday. He said that he wanted to respond to Mullings, but was prevented due to the party's position.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller had demanded that Paulwell, the former Energy Minister, and Spencer, then his deputy, both provide her with reports.

A committee comprising Dr. Omar Davies, Dr. Peter Phillips, A.J. Nicholson, Lisa Hanna, Donald Buchanan and Easton Douglas was appointed to review the reports. Robert Pickersgill, as chairman of the party, also sat on the review committee.

[Mosiah]

K"It is obvious that there are certain procedures that were not followed with respect to the implementation of the programme," the PNP's general secretary Donald Buchanan told The Gleaner yesterday. "But on that matter (fraud), we found no evidence."

I'm gonna wait this one out. I only wish I had heard this from someone else.

[Hortical]

So yuh nuh upset that your PNP waste so much taxpayers money?

[Lazie]

PNP Executive to continue discussions on light bulb debacle

The Executive of the People's National Party (PNP) will continue to deliberate on the fate of Phillip Paulwell and Kern Spencer on Monday.

The two former Ministers have found themselves at the centre of alleged irregularities in the Cuban Light Bulb Distribution Programme.

The fate of the two men could be known Monday when the PNP Executive holds its weekly meeting.

The PNP Executive met Friday, but came away without a decision.

Since then, efforts to locate the PNP General Secretary Donald Buchanan and the Spokesperson on Information Lisa Hanna have been unsuccessful.

Mr. Buchanan and Miss Hanna were members of the committee which reviewed the reports submitted by Mr. Paulwell and Mr. Spencer, a week ago to PNP President Portia Simpson Miller.

The committee turned over its findings on Friday ahead of the executive meeting.

Our sources say many in the meeting were of the view that the leadership must take a firm stand on the matter.

They suggest that the spokesperson responsibilities should be taken from the men, pending the outcome of independent investigations into the matter.

Mr. Paulwell was last month assigned Spokesman on the Energy Ministry and Mr. Spencer, a Deputy Spokesman.

At the time of the light bulb programme, Mr. Paulwell was the Minister of Energy and Mr. Spencer, his junior Minister, was given responsibility to manage the programme.

Last Tuesday, Energy Minister Clive Mullings brought a second report on the matter to Parliament.

He revealed that the Director of Public Prosecution and Fraud Squad have been called in to probe the matter.

This is in addition to audits being undertaken by the Auditor General and Contractor General.

In the meantime, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller on Sunday night declared that while she is not in a position to elaborate on the Cuban light bulb saga she believes her party has nothing to fear.

Mrs. Simpson Miller says she welcomes any investigation into the matter.

Addressing party supporters at the launch of the PNP's local government election, Mrs. Simpson Miller said said she will be meeting with former Minister and State Minister Phillip Paulwell and Kern Spencer later this week.