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Irregularities in the awarding of state contracts in NE St. Catherine says OCG
After nearly three months of investigation the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) has uncovered irregularities in the award of millions of dollars in state contracts in the lead up to the by-election in North East St. Catherine.
Contractor General Greg Christie launched a probe after the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) raised the red flag about instances in which state funds were co-mingled with political campaigning.
The Contractor General was prompted to investigate the award of contracts in North East St. Catherine leading up to the June 16 by-election after Angella Brown Burke who was the PNP's campaign manager grumbled about procurement breaches.
She had complained that the Jamaica Labour Party was using state funds to attract votes for its candidate Gregory Mair.
The 30 page report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday shun the spotlight on the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the National Works Agency (NWA) which were found to be less than squeaky clean in the contract award process.
The St. Catherine Parish Council was also named in the report.
Ambiguities
In his findings, Greg Christie said based on documentary evidence, there appears to be some deviation from established guidelines in respect of contracts that were awarded between January and June this year.
The Contractor General opined that in the case of the NWA, two contracts were awarded in the North East St. Catherine constituency without the agency's Procurement Committee.
Mr. Christie argued in his findings that some of the 8 contracts which were awarded by the NWA, RADA and by the St. Catherine Parish Council acting on behalf of RADA do not on the face of things appeared to have conformed with the Public Sector Procurement procedures.
However, in respect of the award of two contracts totalling $4.7 million, Mr. Christie said he could not site breaches in those specific cases because of ambiguities in the role of the Procurement Committee in Sole Source of Direct Contracting.
The two contracts were awarded by way of the emergency procurement procedures.
The OCG however, recommended that all state entities must at all times adhere to the requirements of the procurement guidelines.
After nearly three months of investigation the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) has uncovered irregularities in the award of millions of dollars in state contracts in the lead up to the by-election in North East St. Catherine.
Contractor General Greg Christie launched a probe after the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) raised the red flag about instances in which state funds were co-mingled with political campaigning.
The Contractor General was prompted to investigate the award of contracts in North East St. Catherine leading up to the June 16 by-election after Angella Brown Burke who was the PNP's campaign manager grumbled about procurement breaches.
She had complained that the Jamaica Labour Party was using state funds to attract votes for its candidate Gregory Mair.
The 30 page report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday shun the spotlight on the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the National Works Agency (NWA) which were found to be less than squeaky clean in the contract award process.
The St. Catherine Parish Council was also named in the report.
Ambiguities
In his findings, Greg Christie said based on documentary evidence, there appears to be some deviation from established guidelines in respect of contracts that were awarded between January and June this year.
The Contractor General opined that in the case of the NWA, two contracts were awarded in the North East St. Catherine constituency without the agency's Procurement Committee.
Mr. Christie argued in his findings that some of the 8 contracts which were awarded by the NWA, RADA and by the St. Catherine Parish Council acting on behalf of RADA do not on the face of things appeared to have conformed with the Public Sector Procurement procedures.
However, in respect of the award of two contracts totalling $4.7 million, Mr. Christie said he could not site breaches in those specific cases because of ambiguities in the role of the Procurement Committee in Sole Source of Direct Contracting.
The two contracts were awarded by way of the emergency procurement procedures.
The OCG however, recommended that all state entities must at all times adhere to the requirements of the procurement guidelines.
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