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Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Prime Minister Bruce Golding is to issue a statement on Tuesday regarding the deepening controversy surrounding the acquisition of lands on which the Hyacinth Bennett-led Hydel Group of Schools is located.
The Office of the Prime Minister says Mr. Golding is to address Tuesday afternoon's session of Parliament.
The Government is facing accusations of nepotism from the Parliamentary Opposition.
The People's National Party (PNP) has described the $168 million purchase of nearly seven acres of land at Ferry in St. Catherine as a sweetheart deal which lacked transparency.
It has called on the Contractor General to investigate the acquisition by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
The PNP is also claiming that the Prime Minister misled the country over the reasons behind the purchase of the lands.
Asking OCG to get involved
During a press conference on Monday, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson-Miller claimed that information from the UDC's Investment Department is not consistent with the Prime Minister's statement to Parliament about the purpose of the acquisition.
Mrs. Simpson-Miller claimed the transaction was carried out under Prime Ministerial orders despite warnings from the Investment Department in July that the property should not be purchased.
The PNP added that it will formally write to the Office of the Contractor-General requesting a probe into the land deal.
Opposition Spokesman on Investment and Development, Ian Hayles, says the letter will be dispatched before the end of the week.
"This is to ensure that the Office of the Contractor General gets involved ... I personally will be turning over all reports that we have in regards to the Ferry Land," he said.
UDC purchased the land after it was advertised for sale - UDC CEO
And the management of the UDC is denying that it decided to purchase the Ferry Lands because of Prime Ministerial influence.
In an interview with RJR News, Chief Executive Officer of the UDC, Joy Douglas, said the Board took the initiative to acquire the property after it was advertised for sale.
Ms. Douglas says documents and recordings of UDC Board meetings which discussed the purchase are available for public scrutiny.
"I'll just read form the confirmed minutes of the meeting on May 15, 2008 - the board approved management exploring the purchase of approximately 2.5 acres of land on which the Hydel Group of School is located at Ferry, which is understood to be available for sale as it is considered strategic to the corporation's proposed development of its land at Caymanas - that is what the UDc board approved," she said.
According to Ms. Douglas,in July, the Board authorised the Corporation's management to proceed with negotiations for the acquisition of the lands.
She added that the purchase was completed last month and the UDC is now in the process of taking control of the property.
Ms Douglas is contending that the Corporation has not had any discussions with Hydel concerning its tenure on the lands.
Regarding reports that the UDC's management was against the purchase of the property, Ms. Douglas said that position was outlined in a preliminary report which was not presented to the Board.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/13147/26/
Prime Minister Bruce Golding is to issue a statement on Tuesday regarding the deepening controversy surrounding the acquisition of lands on which the Hyacinth Bennett-led Hydel Group of Schools is located.
The Office of the Prime Minister says Mr. Golding is to address Tuesday afternoon's session of Parliament.
The Government is facing accusations of nepotism from the Parliamentary Opposition.
The People's National Party (PNP) has described the $168 million purchase of nearly seven acres of land at Ferry in St. Catherine as a sweetheart deal which lacked transparency.
It has called on the Contractor General to investigate the acquisition by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
The PNP is also claiming that the Prime Minister misled the country over the reasons behind the purchase of the lands.
Asking OCG to get involved
During a press conference on Monday, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson-Miller claimed that information from the UDC's Investment Department is not consistent with the Prime Minister's statement to Parliament about the purpose of the acquisition.
Mrs. Simpson-Miller claimed the transaction was carried out under Prime Ministerial orders despite warnings from the Investment Department in July that the property should not be purchased.
The PNP added that it will formally write to the Office of the Contractor-General requesting a probe into the land deal.
Opposition Spokesman on Investment and Development, Ian Hayles, says the letter will be dispatched before the end of the week.
"This is to ensure that the Office of the Contractor General gets involved ... I personally will be turning over all reports that we have in regards to the Ferry Land," he said.
UDC purchased the land after it was advertised for sale - UDC CEO
And the management of the UDC is denying that it decided to purchase the Ferry Lands because of Prime Ministerial influence.
In an interview with RJR News, Chief Executive Officer of the UDC, Joy Douglas, said the Board took the initiative to acquire the property after it was advertised for sale.
Ms. Douglas says documents and recordings of UDC Board meetings which discussed the purchase are available for public scrutiny.
"I'll just read form the confirmed minutes of the meeting on May 15, 2008 - the board approved management exploring the purchase of approximately 2.5 acres of land on which the Hydel Group of School is located at Ferry, which is understood to be available for sale as it is considered strategic to the corporation's proposed development of its land at Caymanas - that is what the UDc board approved," she said.
According to Ms. Douglas,in July, the Board authorised the Corporation's management to proceed with negotiations for the acquisition of the lands.
She added that the purchase was completed last month and the UDC is now in the process of taking control of the property.
Ms Douglas is contending that the Corporation has not had any discussions with Hydel concerning its tenure on the lands.
Regarding reports that the UDC's management was against the purchase of the property, Ms. Douglas said that position was outlined in a preliminary report which was not presented to the Board.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/13147/26/
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