Andrew Holness denies influencing award of contracts; refers matter to attorneys

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has challenged the Integrity Fee’s report which means battle of curiosity on his half, in relation to the awarding of contracts to shut associates when he was Minister of Schooling 14 to 16 years in the past.

He not solely insisted in a press release issued late Wednesday that he did nothing mistaken however stated the matter has been referred to his attorneys.

“I strongly disagree with among the findings of the report and have referred it to my attorneys. I strongly reject any suggestion or insinuation of wrongdoing and I’ll do all in my energy to make sure that the reality is understood,” the prime minister stated.

– Commercial –

Within the 107-page report which was laid in Parliament on Tuesday, the Integrity Fee stated it had referred the matter to the director of corruption prosecution for consideration with respect to breaches of the Contractor Basic Act in relation to contracts awarded to Westcon Building Restricted between February 2007 and November 2009.

Westcon’s administrators had been Robert Garvin and Donovan Simpson, each of whom Holness admitted to figuring out for greater than 20 years though he stated solely Garvin is understood to him “personally”.

In accordance with the fee, Westcon was awarded ten contracts by the Ministry of Schooling, Youth and Data, totalling J$21.8 million, however solely 5 had been reported to the Workplace of the Contractor Basic by the use of the ministry’s quarterly contract award (QCA) reviews for the interval.

“In my response to the Integrity Fee queries of those dated issues, I made it completely clear that at no time have I ever exercised affect on any course of for the award of contracts,” Holness stated in response to the report.

“I strongly disagree with the findings of the Integrity Fee relating to battle of curiosity based mostly on mere affiliation.”

He additional sought to clarify that it has been the longstanding follow that members of parliament are requested to suggest native contractors to undertake works of their constituencies as a sensible matter. This follow was launched in the course of the Nineties and has continued throughout a number of administrations since.

“Moreover, it’s also the follow that constituency undertaking officers for the Constituency Improvement Fund (CDF) are beneficial by the member of parliament. It’s not uncommon that CDF initiatives officers are individuals who’re already working within the constituency group and are related to the MP. I’m sure {that a} overview of native works and CDF initiatives officers will discover that MP suggestions characteristic considerably in an unlimited variety of them, and this has by no means been cited as exercising undue affect,” the prime minister stated.

“The Integrity Fee’s report additionally ignores the circumstances of an emergency, the place in 2008, 15 years in the past the ‘Christmas Work’ program was late in beginning and staff confronted a excessive likelihood of not being paid. I used to be requested to suggest an entity to facilitate cost of the ‘Christmas Work Program’ earlier than the shut of enterprise for the Christmas holidays. This was achieved in good religion. To see this being focused and made into one thing it isn’t, is gravely disappointing.”

After the discharge of the Integrity Fee’s report, the opposition Individuals’s Nationwide Get together stated the revelations had uncovered the nation to worldwide embarrassment.

CMC/