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Dudus grows richer
Article Published: Sunday, May 16th, 2010
• Multi-million Washington Blvd contract
Incomparable Enterprise Limited, a company in which alleged drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke is a shareholder, could earn between $20 million and $40 million from another Government project, reports indicate.
This time the company is one of three contracted by Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Limited to supply aggregate for the multi-billion Washington Boulevard road construction project.
Based on the Sunday Herald findings, Incomparable Enterprise has been contracted to truck and supply over 28,000 cubic yards of material to the project, which is being financed by the Caribbean Development Bank.
“We have no sub-contract arrangement
with Incomparable Enterprise
Group. We have however, screened and approved the use of aggregate produced by Incomparable at their Ferry Quarry for use as sub base on this project,” said Mike Archer, Surrey Paving projects officer, in response to queries from the Sunday Herald.
“Incomparable Enterprise Group is one of eight quarries so screened in accordance with our Quality Management System (QMS procedures),” Archer explained.
The Sunday Herald has confirmed information that six of these quarries — three from Bull Bay, two from Ferry and one from St. Catherine have so far been approved, including the Incomparable Enterprise Group quarry at Ferry. All were submitted to Surrey Paving consultants and approval received from the National Works Agency (NWA).
“We have so far issued purchase orders for material from all three quarries in Bull Bay, the quarry in St. Catherine (Hill Run) and Incomparable Enterprise at Ferry,” Archer said.
All quarries, Archer said, “have valid mining licences, have produced proof of ownership and have produced valid tax compliance certificates as required by our QMS procedures.”
According to Archer most of the aggregate to date was purchased from Bull Bay. And the decision for the purchase of aggregate, he said, reflects commercial considerations, availability and constant monitoring to ensure they continue to meet the specifications for the grade of aggregates required for various applications on the job.
Based on Sunday Herald findings, Incomparable has worked with Surrey Paving in the past supplying road construction material for road repairs project in rural St Andrew between 2005/06. The latest findings coincide with what appears to be a plan by Incomparable with support from the Government to continue to benefit from public funds.
The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) leased the Ferry Quarry to Incomparable Enterprise on February 1, 2009 for $2.9 million annually, payable monthly in advance in equal instalments of $241,667. Under the agreement there is a rental increase of 10 per cent per annum, for five years with option to renew.
“Market rental to be determined by the landlord’s appointed surveyors provided such market rental shall be at a greater sum than that immediately preceding the date of renewal,” a release from the UDC disclosed.
The lease was approved at the UDC board meeting of August 19, 2008 after it had been satisfied that all the proper checks (TCC, NCC certificate, FID report) had been done.
Lucrative contracts
Since taking over central and local government administrations, the Coke’s company has been awarded over $100 million dollars in state contracts, excluding the latest contract on Washington Boulevard. Records from the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation and the Office of the Contractor General show that the contracts were awarded after the ruling Jamaica Labour Party took over parish council in 2003, and August 2009.
Less than a year after assuming power, the Government awarded the company a number of lucrative contracts, which, by August last year, amounted to approximately $71,754,897.49 in contracts endorsed by the National Contracts Commission.
But it does not stop there, and Prime Minister Golding’s disclosure that he sanctioned the Jamaica Labour Party move to hire a US law firm to lobby the US administration on Coke’s extradition has raised several questions about Jamaica’s commitment to fighting organized crime.
In its 2007 Election Manifesto, the JLP stated that it would ensure that contractors registered with the National Contracts Commission would be required to produce satisfactory police records. And those who engage the services of sub-contractors with criminal records involving conviction for gun-related or violent crimes would be removed from the register of contractors.
However, while Incomparable Enterprise Limited has fulfilled its legal requirements to be awarded Government contracts in this regard, critics are questioning the Government’s commitment to law and order in the light of the damming allegations against Coke by the US Government.
Unofficial policy
Contracts awarded to Incomparable Enterprise included one to construct a monument for fourth Prime Minister and former leader of the JLP, the late Hugh Lawson Shearer, at a cost of $4,602,848. This monument was constructed at the National Heroes Circle burial ground for the nation’s heroes and statesmen.
There are indications that there is an unofficial policy where contracts for projects in the downtown Kingston area are awarded to that company, which has been awarded close to $30 million by the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) since the Jamaica Labour Party took control of the council in 2003.
The company was also the recipient of a $16.9 million contract in November 2008 to repair the historic Ward Theatre. In 1982 the owners, the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation, closed the theatre for structural repairs. In 1986 the Ward Theatre Foundation was formed and a lease agreement signed with the KSAC to operate and manage the theatre for 25 years.
In 2008 the National Works Agency (NWA) awarded Incomparable Enterprise a contract for over $28 million to repair the Tivoli Gully, which encircles Tivoli Gardens, where Coke has his headquarters. The OCG 2008 report stated that the company was contracted to do emergency Hurricane Gustav repair work to the reinforced concrete retaining wall and to slab the gully.
A contract for $18.4 million was awarded to refurbish the building and modification including the removal and replacement of fixtures fitting to the canteen at the Ministry of Education. In August 2008, Incomparable Enterprise was awarded a contract for $2.7 million for the lease of heavy-duty equipment.
Grand Jury indictment
In August last year, the US government requested the extradition of Coke based on a Grand Jury indictment. The indictment against Coke states that from 1994, and October 2007, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, and others known and unknown, unlawfully, intentionally, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to violate the narcotics laws of the United States.
According to the Grand Jury, around 1994 Coke and others known and unknown, not being licensed importers, licensed manufacturers and licensed dealers engaged in the business of dealing in firearms: In the course of such business ship and transport firearms in interstate commerce in breach of US laws.
Coke and his co-conspirators would answer charges of possession of and intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Sections 812, 841(a) (1), and 841(b) (1) (A) of Title 21, United States Code.
The accused and his co-conspirators would also face charges for unlawfully, intentionally, distributing five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
The Grand Jury was told that Coke controlled the Tivoli Gardens area, a neighbourhood in inner city Kingston, Jamaica, since 1990.
Reports are that the Jamaican Government has sought answers from the US Government on the identities of a number of unnamed co-conspirators in a Grand Jury indictment alleging that Coke committed several counts of drug trafficking and gunrunning offences. But under US laws, the prosecution can withhold the names of informers.
The US government had denied the request citing several legal grounds prohibiting the disclosures of informers in drug related cases.
Article Published: Sunday, May 16th, 2010
• Multi-million Washington Blvd contract
Incomparable Enterprise Limited, a company in which alleged drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke is a shareholder, could earn between $20 million and $40 million from another Government project, reports indicate.
This time the company is one of three contracted by Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Limited to supply aggregate for the multi-billion Washington Boulevard road construction project.
Based on the Sunday Herald findings, Incomparable Enterprise has been contracted to truck and supply over 28,000 cubic yards of material to the project, which is being financed by the Caribbean Development Bank.
“We have no sub-contract arrangement
with Incomparable Enterprise
Group. We have however, screened and approved the use of aggregate produced by Incomparable at their Ferry Quarry for use as sub base on this project,” said Mike Archer, Surrey Paving projects officer, in response to queries from the Sunday Herald.
“Incomparable Enterprise Group is one of eight quarries so screened in accordance with our Quality Management System (QMS procedures),” Archer explained.
The Sunday Herald has confirmed information that six of these quarries — three from Bull Bay, two from Ferry and one from St. Catherine have so far been approved, including the Incomparable Enterprise Group quarry at Ferry. All were submitted to Surrey Paving consultants and approval received from the National Works Agency (NWA).
“We have so far issued purchase orders for material from all three quarries in Bull Bay, the quarry in St. Catherine (Hill Run) and Incomparable Enterprise at Ferry,” Archer said.
All quarries, Archer said, “have valid mining licences, have produced proof of ownership and have produced valid tax compliance certificates as required by our QMS procedures.”
According to Archer most of the aggregate to date was purchased from Bull Bay. And the decision for the purchase of aggregate, he said, reflects commercial considerations, availability and constant monitoring to ensure they continue to meet the specifications for the grade of aggregates required for various applications on the job.
Based on Sunday Herald findings, Incomparable has worked with Surrey Paving in the past supplying road construction material for road repairs project in rural St Andrew between 2005/06. The latest findings coincide with what appears to be a plan by Incomparable with support from the Government to continue to benefit from public funds.
The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) leased the Ferry Quarry to Incomparable Enterprise on February 1, 2009 for $2.9 million annually, payable monthly in advance in equal instalments of $241,667. Under the agreement there is a rental increase of 10 per cent per annum, for five years with option to renew.
“Market rental to be determined by the landlord’s appointed surveyors provided such market rental shall be at a greater sum than that immediately preceding the date of renewal,” a release from the UDC disclosed.
The lease was approved at the UDC board meeting of August 19, 2008 after it had been satisfied that all the proper checks (TCC, NCC certificate, FID report) had been done.
Lucrative contracts
Since taking over central and local government administrations, the Coke’s company has been awarded over $100 million dollars in state contracts, excluding the latest contract on Washington Boulevard. Records from the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation and the Office of the Contractor General show that the contracts were awarded after the ruling Jamaica Labour Party took over parish council in 2003, and August 2009.
Less than a year after assuming power, the Government awarded the company a number of lucrative contracts, which, by August last year, amounted to approximately $71,754,897.49 in contracts endorsed by the National Contracts Commission.
But it does not stop there, and Prime Minister Golding’s disclosure that he sanctioned the Jamaica Labour Party move to hire a US law firm to lobby the US administration on Coke’s extradition has raised several questions about Jamaica’s commitment to fighting organized crime.
In its 2007 Election Manifesto, the JLP stated that it would ensure that contractors registered with the National Contracts Commission would be required to produce satisfactory police records. And those who engage the services of sub-contractors with criminal records involving conviction for gun-related or violent crimes would be removed from the register of contractors.
However, while Incomparable Enterprise Limited has fulfilled its legal requirements to be awarded Government contracts in this regard, critics are questioning the Government’s commitment to law and order in the light of the damming allegations against Coke by the US Government.
Unofficial policy
Contracts awarded to Incomparable Enterprise included one to construct a monument for fourth Prime Minister and former leader of the JLP, the late Hugh Lawson Shearer, at a cost of $4,602,848. This monument was constructed at the National Heroes Circle burial ground for the nation’s heroes and statesmen.
There are indications that there is an unofficial policy where contracts for projects in the downtown Kingston area are awarded to that company, which has been awarded close to $30 million by the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) since the Jamaica Labour Party took control of the council in 2003.
The company was also the recipient of a $16.9 million contract in November 2008 to repair the historic Ward Theatre. In 1982 the owners, the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation, closed the theatre for structural repairs. In 1986 the Ward Theatre Foundation was formed and a lease agreement signed with the KSAC to operate and manage the theatre for 25 years.
In 2008 the National Works Agency (NWA) awarded Incomparable Enterprise a contract for over $28 million to repair the Tivoli Gully, which encircles Tivoli Gardens, where Coke has his headquarters. The OCG 2008 report stated that the company was contracted to do emergency Hurricane Gustav repair work to the reinforced concrete retaining wall and to slab the gully.
A contract for $18.4 million was awarded to refurbish the building and modification including the removal and replacement of fixtures fitting to the canteen at the Ministry of Education. In August 2008, Incomparable Enterprise was awarded a contract for $2.7 million for the lease of heavy-duty equipment.
Grand Jury indictment
In August last year, the US government requested the extradition of Coke based on a Grand Jury indictment. The indictment against Coke states that from 1994, and October 2007, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, and others known and unknown, unlawfully, intentionally, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to violate the narcotics laws of the United States.
According to the Grand Jury, around 1994 Coke and others known and unknown, not being licensed importers, licensed manufacturers and licensed dealers engaged in the business of dealing in firearms: In the course of such business ship and transport firearms in interstate commerce in breach of US laws.
Coke and his co-conspirators would answer charges of possession of and intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Sections 812, 841(a) (1), and 841(b) (1) (A) of Title 21, United States Code.
The accused and his co-conspirators would also face charges for unlawfully, intentionally, distributing five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
The Grand Jury was told that Coke controlled the Tivoli Gardens area, a neighbourhood in inner city Kingston, Jamaica, since 1990.
Reports are that the Jamaican Government has sought answers from the US Government on the identities of a number of unnamed co-conspirators in a Grand Jury indictment alleging that Coke committed several counts of drug trafficking and gunrunning offences. But under US laws, the prosecution can withhold the names of informers.
The US government had denied the request citing several legal grounds prohibiting the disclosures of informers in drug related cases.
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