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There are indications that some Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Mayors have failed to carry out instructions issued earlier this year by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding to ensure that Parish Council business is kept aboveboard.
<SPAN class=news_body>In a move clearly aimed at ensuring that the party did not become embroiled in allegations of financial irregularities, Mr. Golding penned a strong letter to Council Chairmen.
Months after the letter was written, it was released to Local Government Minister Dean Peart.
The May 16 2006 date line indicated that the letter was written after audits revealed that some Parish Councils were flouting established procedures.
Mr. Golding referred to findings of the Contractor General's report into the awarding of contracts by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and the Portmore Municipal Council. He asserted that while the findings did not cite corruption, it revealed flagrant breaches of the procedures laid down for the award of contracts.
The Opposition Leader recalled that at nearly all meetings of the party's Council of Mayors, he stressed the necessity of compliance with the established procedures for the award of contracts.
He said he was constantly assured that this has been done.
In light of those findings by the Contractor General, Mr. Golding said he had instructed mayors to undertake an immediate review of the procedures which existed in the Councils.
This was primarily in relation to approval and award of contracts and the procurement of goods and services.
The Opposition Leader also ordered the mayors to ask the Contractor General to review these procedures.
This was to ensure that they were adequate and worked satisfactorily.
Mr. Golding urged the Mayors to act with urgency.
He stressed that the issue affects not only the integrity of the Councils but the JLP as well.
But months after this letter was dispatched to all JLP Mayors, procedural problems have resurfaced.
This time, two Parish Councils have been cited, the St. Mary and St. Catherine Parish Councils.</SPAN>
<SPAN class=news_body>In a move clearly aimed at ensuring that the party did not become embroiled in allegations of financial irregularities, Mr. Golding penned a strong letter to Council Chairmen.
Months after the letter was written, it was released to Local Government Minister Dean Peart.
The May 16 2006 date line indicated that the letter was written after audits revealed that some Parish Councils were flouting established procedures.
Mr. Golding referred to findings of the Contractor General's report into the awarding of contracts by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and the Portmore Municipal Council. He asserted that while the findings did not cite corruption, it revealed flagrant breaches of the procedures laid down for the award of contracts.
The Opposition Leader recalled that at nearly all meetings of the party's Council of Mayors, he stressed the necessity of compliance with the established procedures for the award of contracts.
He said he was constantly assured that this has been done.
In light of those findings by the Contractor General, Mr. Golding said he had instructed mayors to undertake an immediate review of the procedures which existed in the Councils.
This was primarily in relation to approval and award of contracts and the procurement of goods and services.
The Opposition Leader also ordered the mayors to ask the Contractor General to review these procedures.
This was to ensure that they were adequate and worked satisfactorily.
Mr. Golding urged the Mayors to act with urgency.
He stressed that the issue affects not only the integrity of the Councils but the JLP as well.
But months after this letter was dispatched to all JLP Mayors, procedural problems have resurfaced.
This time, two Parish Councils have been cited, the St. Mary and St. Catherine Parish Councils.</SPAN>