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Most Honorable, Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica |
Jamaica's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness could be under intense scrutiny by the Director of Corruption Prosecution after he was referred for investigation by a report released by the Integrity Commission (IC). In the report it is implicated that the Prime Minister may have a conflict of interest in the awarding of several government contracts between 2006 and 2009 when he was the Minister of Education. The contracts were worth millions of dollars.
Million dollar contracts
The contracts were awarded to Westcon through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI), while Holness was portfolio minister, through the Social Development Commission (SDC), and also the National Works Agency (NWA).
According to the I.C. report 10 contracts were awarded to Westcon Construction through the MOEYI totalling $21.8 million, but only five were reported to the Office of the Contractor General via the MOEYI's quarterly contract award (QCA) reports for the period.
The NWA also during that period, had awarded 34 contracts to the company totalling $33.7 million. Twenty-six (26) of them fell within the value threshold which required the NWA to submit details of the contracts to the contractor general via QCA reports but only six (6) were reported.
Westcon also received two (2) contracts through the SDC worth $370,000 and $1.4 million. Both were reported to the then contractor general but there was no evidence of the SDC utilising formal tender procedures for the procurement, the report said.
Westcon also received two (2) contracts through the SDC worth $370,000 and $1.4 million. Both were reported to the then contractor general but there was no evidence of the SDC utilising formal tender procedures for the procurement, the report said.
The report also noted that Garvin is “personally” known to Holness and had been employed both in his St Andrew West Central constituency and in Holness' personal business.
A matter of Association
The report also revealed that Garvin was a director in the Positive Jamaica Foundation Limited, where Holness remains a director. Mr. Garvin, Dr Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and Warren Vernon were noted as ceased directors as at November 1, 2016.
Both PM Holness and Garvin were also listed as directors of the company Sunshine Mobile Company, for which the core business activity was the provision of transportation consultancy.
Garvin was also listed as a former director as at November 1, 2016, in the company West Central Saint Andrew Trust, for which Holness was listed as a director.
Both PM Holness and Garvin were also listed as directors of the company Sunshine Mobile Company, for which the core business activity was the provision of transportation consultancy.
Garvin was also listed as a former director as at November 1, 2016, in the company West Central Saint Andrew Trust, for which Holness was listed as a director.
Additionally, Garvin and Juliet Holness, the member of parliament for St Andrew East Rural and the prime minister's wife, were listed as directors of the company Omega Bridge Finance, for which the core business activity recorded was investments.
The prime minister ceased being a director in that company in September 2007 and is listed as a shareholder together with Garvin.
The report revealed a letter exists, written by the PM, dated December 20, 2007, which recommends that Westcon Construction Limited be awarded a contract in the amount of $1,450,000 for works in St Andrew West Central relating to the 2007 Christmas Work Programme.
In relation to the contract that was awarded by the SDC to the company, PM Holness also wrote to the SDC, in a letter dated September 23, 2009, and advised that Garvin was employed as the project manager under the Constituency Development Fund in St Andrew West Central. Subsequent invoices were provided to the SDC requiring that payment be made to Garvin in care of Westcon Construction Limited.
In relation to the contract that was awarded by the SDC to the company, PM Holness also wrote to the SDC, in a letter dated September 23, 2009, and advised that Garvin was employed as the project manager under the Constituency Development Fund in St Andrew West Central. Subsequent invoices were provided to the SDC requiring that payment be made to Garvin in care of Westcon Construction Limited.
Integrity Commission report:
Based on the information revealed above the Integrity Commission felt it appropriate to recommend further investigation by the DCP.
“The matter concerning the potential conflict of interest which arose in relation to the recommendation which was made by the Most Hon Andrew Holness is being referred to the director of corruption prosecution for consideration with respect to breaches of the Contractor General Act, the Public Sector Procurement Regulations 2008, the Corruption (Prevention) Act and/or any other applicable law.”
Based on the information revealed above the Integrity Commission felt it appropriate to recommend further investigation by the DCP.
We will keep our 👀 on this one for you peeps. Stay tuned.
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