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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Shaw backs out</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Mike Henry to chair PAC meetings on Whitehouse hotel issue</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
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</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>SHAW. comments give rise to doubts that I can couldSHAW. comments give rise to doubts that I can could remain impartial remain impartial </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>AUDLEY Shaw yesterday vacated the chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament which is probing the US$43-million cost overrun on the Whitehouse hotel project, saying comments he had made at a political rally on the weekend had cast a shadow on his chairmanship.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Shaw decision to voluntary give up the chair of the PAC yesterday forced a postponement of the committee's plan to question former Urban Development Corporation (UDC) executive chairman Vin Lawrence and its project management representative, Nevalco's Alston Stewart, about the UDC's role in the cost overruns at the controversial hotel project<P class=StoryText align=justify>The PAC is, however, expected to reconvene next Tuesday, following the naming of Mike Henry, the opposition spokesman on transport and a veteran PAC member, as its temporary chairman, after the committee recommended the appointment of a new chairman and that the person's tenure of appointment be determined. Henry appointment as temporary chairman was named later in the day by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Shaw, speaking at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) rally in Portland made comments intimating that Lawrence would be given a hard time during the sitting of the PAC.<P class=StoryText align=justify>However, when the PAC convened yesterday, Shaw, the opposition spokesman on finance, said his weekend comments had given rise to doubts that he could remain impartial in relation to the questioning of the former UDC chair and announced that he would be vacating the chair "in order to avoid questions of motive being raised as to the conduct of the proceedings". He then invited the committee to appoint a member to take the chair temporarily.
Government members who lost no time in voicing their full agreement with the decision, further insisted that Shaw apologise for his comments which they said had prejudiced the entire proceedings and also suggested that the PAC chairman should not preside over the sittings during the period the UDC was under probe.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Government Member John Junor said Shaw's "unfortunate" statement had not only shown a clear bias against Lawrence, but the whole situation involving the UDC, and would colour the results. "This committee is not to be a political football," said Junor.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In the meantime, government member K D Knight, who was vociferous in his support of Junor's stance, also dismissed suggestions that another Opposition member be identified during the sitting to take the chair.<P class=StoryText align=justify>According to Knight, while he was in no way attempting to "vilify" the opposition, Shaw's statement had given the impression that his committee colleagues had some by some unspoken agreement decided to give Lawrence a hard time.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"The statement that was made said 'we'. On whose behalf did you speak? Who were you speaking about? Not one member here has disassociated themselves from what you said. What confidence would I have in any of them chairing this proceeding by being appointed as a temporary chairman?" Knight asked. He added that "no one on this side (gove
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Mike Henry to chair PAC meetings on Whitehouse hotel issue</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=165 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>SHAW. comments give rise to doubts that I can couldSHAW. comments give rise to doubts that I can could remain impartial remain impartial </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>AUDLEY Shaw yesterday vacated the chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament which is probing the US$43-million cost overrun on the Whitehouse hotel project, saying comments he had made at a political rally on the weekend had cast a shadow on his chairmanship.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Shaw decision to voluntary give up the chair of the PAC yesterday forced a postponement of the committee's plan to question former Urban Development Corporation (UDC) executive chairman Vin Lawrence and its project management representative, Nevalco's Alston Stewart, about the UDC's role in the cost overruns at the controversial hotel project<P class=StoryText align=justify>The PAC is, however, expected to reconvene next Tuesday, following the naming of Mike Henry, the opposition spokesman on transport and a veteran PAC member, as its temporary chairman, after the committee recommended the appointment of a new chairman and that the person's tenure of appointment be determined. Henry appointment as temporary chairman was named later in the day by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Shaw, speaking at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) rally in Portland made comments intimating that Lawrence would be given a hard time during the sitting of the PAC.<P class=StoryText align=justify>However, when the PAC convened yesterday, Shaw, the opposition spokesman on finance, said his weekend comments had given rise to doubts that he could remain impartial in relation to the questioning of the former UDC chair and announced that he would be vacating the chair "in order to avoid questions of motive being raised as to the conduct of the proceedings". He then invited the committee to appoint a member to take the chair temporarily.Government members who lost no time in voicing their full agreement with the decision, further insisted that Shaw apologise for his comments which they said had prejudiced the entire proceedings and also suggested that the PAC chairman should not preside over the sittings during the period the UDC was under probe.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Government Member John Junor said Shaw's "unfortunate" statement had not only shown a clear bias against Lawrence, but the whole situation involving the UDC, and would colour the results. "This committee is not to be a political football," said Junor.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In the meantime, government member K D Knight, who was vociferous in his support of Junor's stance, also dismissed suggestions that another Opposition member be identified during the sitting to take the chair.<P class=StoryText align=justify>According to Knight, while he was in no way attempting to "vilify" the opposition, Shaw's statement had given the impression that his committee colleagues had some by some unspoken agreement decided to give Lawrence a hard time.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"The statement that was made said 'we'. On whose behalf did you speak? Who were you speaking about? Not one member here has disassociated themselves from what you said. What confidence would I have in any of them chairing this proceeding by being appointed as a temporary chairman?" Knight asked. He added that "no one on this side (gove
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