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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Ministry to investigate charges of inequitable approach in marl deal</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Ken Chaplin
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Ken Chaplin</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>The Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works is investigating and will comment on charges of "inequitable approach" made by D&K Farms re the procurement of material for the construction of the North Coast Highway in that of the many marl pits in St Mary, purchases are made from the one owned by a member of parliament for the ruling People's National Party. After seeing certain documents relating to the matter I asked the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Alwin Hales for his comment. Acknowledging receipt of the letter, Dr Hales said the matter was being investigated and the ministry's comment would be forwarded "as soon as we are in receipt of the report".<P class=StoryText align=justify>In May this year D&K Farms expressed surprise to the project manager, E PIHL & SON AS that it was made to understand that the quality of limestone which the company has available does not meet the standard required for use on the North Coast Highway Improvement Project. "This is extremely surprising since the same limestone was found to be of superior quality when used in the construction of roads in St Mary by the National Works Agency, and was funded by the European Union," D&K Farms said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The response from the project manager was that only one marl pit complied with the specifications for the project. There was no indication of the marl pit tested, the results of the test and on what dates the tests were made to be able to ascertain if those tested were licensed before making purchases. Reports by the Ministry of Construction and Works done in January 2000 and by the Bureau of Standards in July 2006 indicate that grading of the marl at D&K Farms met the specification for sub-base material.<P class=StoryText align=justify>There is no information on the terms of the contract with the government MP and whether it requires exemption from Parliament.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The grant of preferential treatment to an exclusive supplier of material in matters involving the government as a contracting party must be done with openness and accountability without discrimination for other than proper reasons. This matter is of great public interest requiring close and careful investigation to ensure that transparency and equity are maintained for expenditure on public projects.<P class=StoryText align=justify>It should be pointed out that the contractor has made it clear on more than one occasion that according to their contract "it can buy material from any source of its own choice that is compliant with technical specification". This may be so but the contractor has a responsibility to ensure that procurement for state projects, as the contractor-general Greg Christie has always insisted, are awarded impartially, on merit and with transparency. Whatever the contract says, the contractor-general has the power to investigate and I hope D&K Farms will make the appropriate representation to him. I will reserve further comment until I receive the report from the permanent secretary. The contracting authority for the Northern Coastal Highway Improvement Project is the government of Jamaica, represented by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works.<P class=StoryText align=justify>[B]Parish Council roads a national disaster</B
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Ken Chaplin
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=80 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Ken Chaplin</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>The Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works is investigating and will comment on charges of "inequitable approach" made by D&K Farms re the procurement of material for the construction of the North Coast Highway in that of the many marl pits in St Mary, purchases are made from the one owned by a member of parliament for the ruling People's National Party. After seeing certain documents relating to the matter I asked the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Alwin Hales for his comment. Acknowledging receipt of the letter, Dr Hales said the matter was being investigated and the ministry's comment would be forwarded "as soon as we are in receipt of the report".<P class=StoryText align=justify>In May this year D&K Farms expressed surprise to the project manager, E PIHL & SON AS that it was made to understand that the quality of limestone which the company has available does not meet the standard required for use on the North Coast Highway Improvement Project. "This is extremely surprising since the same limestone was found to be of superior quality when used in the construction of roads in St Mary by the National Works Agency, and was funded by the European Union," D&K Farms said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The response from the project manager was that only one marl pit complied with the specifications for the project. There was no indication of the marl pit tested, the results of the test and on what dates the tests were made to be able to ascertain if those tested were licensed before making purchases. Reports by the Ministry of Construction and Works done in January 2000 and by the Bureau of Standards in July 2006 indicate that grading of the marl at D&K Farms met the specification for sub-base material.<P class=StoryText align=justify>There is no information on the terms of the contract with the government MP and whether it requires exemption from Parliament.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The grant of preferential treatment to an exclusive supplier of material in matters involving the government as a contracting party must be done with openness and accountability without discrimination for other than proper reasons. This matter is of great public interest requiring close and careful investigation to ensure that transparency and equity are maintained for expenditure on public projects.<P class=StoryText align=justify>It should be pointed out that the contractor has made it clear on more than one occasion that according to their contract "it can buy material from any source of its own choice that is compliant with technical specification". This may be so but the contractor has a responsibility to ensure that procurement for state projects, as the contractor-general Greg Christie has always insisted, are awarded impartially, on merit and with transparency. Whatever the contract says, the contractor-general has the power to investigate and I hope D&K Farms will make the appropriate representation to him. I will reserve further comment until I receive the report from the permanent secretary. The contracting authority for the Northern Coastal Highway Improvement Project is the government of Jamaica, represented by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works.<P class=StoryText align=justify>[B]Parish Council roads a national disaster</B