Tweet
Jamalco sale 'nothing short of scandalous' - OCG
Complains Gov't sidelining office over deal
JamaicaObserver.com
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
CONTRACTOR General Greg Christie has launched an investigation into Government’s proposed divestment of its 45 per cent stake in JAMALCO to Zhuhai Hongfan Non-ferrous Metals and Chemical Engineering Limited (Hongfan).
In a release today the Contractor General said that he was forced to act after the Ministry of Energy and Mining failed and/or refused to put the divestment of the shares through a structured, Office of the Contractor General (OCG) monitored competitive process. Christie said that he had also received a letter from the permanent secretary in that ministry which challenged the OCG's jurisdiction in Government divestments.
Writing to Prime Minister Bruce Golding today, Christie said that the matter was "nothing short of scandalous” and a “retrograde step for the administration”.
“The fact that the administration has now boldly challenged the jurisdiction of the OCG over asset divestment matters, despite, inter alia, its previous record of requesting the OCG to formally investigate similar issues, has called into question the credibility and sincerity of its pronouncements regarding its commitment to fight corruption, to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption and good governance institutional structures, and to ensure transparency, probity, competition, accountability and value for money in public contracting," Christie said.
He said that he had previously told the Government that circumstances surrounding the deal raised concerns of transparency, value for money, competition, conflicts of interest, propriety, merit and impartiality.
Complains Gov't sidelining office over deal
JamaicaObserver.com
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
CONTRACTOR General Greg Christie has launched an investigation into Government’s proposed divestment of its 45 per cent stake in JAMALCO to Zhuhai Hongfan Non-ferrous Metals and Chemical Engineering Limited (Hongfan).
In a release today the Contractor General said that he was forced to act after the Ministry of Energy and Mining failed and/or refused to put the divestment of the shares through a structured, Office of the Contractor General (OCG) monitored competitive process. Christie said that he had also received a letter from the permanent secretary in that ministry which challenged the OCG's jurisdiction in Government divestments.
Writing to Prime Minister Bruce Golding today, Christie said that the matter was "nothing short of scandalous” and a “retrograde step for the administration”.
“The fact that the administration has now boldly challenged the jurisdiction of the OCG over asset divestment matters, despite, inter alia, its previous record of requesting the OCG to formally investigate similar issues, has called into question the credibility and sincerity of its pronouncements regarding its commitment to fight corruption, to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption and good governance institutional structures, and to ensure transparency, probity, competition, accountability and value for money in public contracting," Christie said.
He said that he had previously told the Government that circumstances surrounding the deal raised concerns of transparency, value for money, competition, conflicts of interest, propriety, merit and impartiality.
Comment