Gov’t to proceed with Jamalco sale despite OCG probe

[Lazie]

The Government has decided to press ahead with the divestment of its stake in Jamalco in Clarendon despite the probe being carried out by the Office of the Contractor-General into the sale.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says while the decision to carry out the divestment is not a popular one, the Government will press ahead.

Clarendon Alumina Productions, which manages the Government's interest in the alumina refinery, has accumulated losses amounting to more than US$500 million since 2002.

The losses stem from an agreement for the forward sale of bauxite.

“We found ourselves in a situation where we were losing at one stage, it’s not so bad now, but at one stage we were losing US$130 on every tonne of alumina that was produced by Jamalco,” Mr. Golding said.

Despite the Contractor General conducting an investigation to determine if there was a conflict of interest in the divestment exercise, the Prime Minister says the sale will not be delayed.

“The contractor general has said he wants to investigate the transaction, by all means, but what is clear is that we cannot go into the future, we cannot take off with this kind of weight either hanging around our necks or on the wings that are to enable us to soar,” he said.


http://rjrnewsonline.com/business/go...pite-ocg-probe

[Muadib]

I just hope Christie nuh get him toe runover like Mosiah !

Ah move wi ah move.. no time to waste..

[Karl]

PNP: OCG confirms worst fears about Gov't
Concerning procurements for Olympic celebrations
JamaicaObserver.com
Thursday, July 01, 2010



Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Olivia 'Babsy' Grange


Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Olivia 'Babsy' Grange

1/1

THE Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says that the publication of Contractor General Greg Christie's report on contract awards for the Olympic athletes homecoming celebrations confirms its worst fears about the Government's approach to procurement procedures.


“This is just another example of this administration's flagrant disregard for and determination to circumvent established procurement procedures. Such procedures were designed to guarantee value for money and avoid the corrupt award of contracts.” Said PNP spokesperson, Lisa Hanna.


Hanna said that the PNP had previously warned that exempting creative services from the Government procurement procedures would allow a 'free for all' and charged the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport of unaccountability in the matter.


She said it was instructive that Christie reported that one of the ministry's main contracts with JAMBIZ International Ltd valued at more than $14 million was dated September 4, 2008 before the changes to the procurement guidelines took effect two weeks later.


“The Opposition agrees with the OCG that notwithstanding exemptions from the guidelines, once GOJ funds are being paid, persons must at all times demonstrate accountability and fiscal responsibility,” she said. “No concession can be made to lower the standard of accountability in the use of public funds, whether they are contributed by tax-payers, the private sector or both”, the Opposition Spokesperson added.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...rs-about-Gov-t

[Karl]

Wah yuh seh Maudib the JLP's move to change the Constitution...modify the powers of the OGM...so as to be able to engage in wrongs such as that with the airlift contracts is par for the course?

[Muadib]

I wondah if people realize seh is 18 years man out deh ah starve ?

Is what dem really hexpec ?

Wait till di PNP finally get back in after dem 'prison sentence'... ah hope dem did store up during the times of plenty..

[Rudi]

But me no understand the JLP contradicting you Ben. Dem a gwan like dem might not have another term much less three. Trying to stuff as much of the rinseing in the first term as possible. Is wha dem know that you dont.

[Muadib]

Well.. mi can afford fi tek di chance.. dem cyaan.. and he who feels it knows it..

lol !