KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness had challenged the Integrity Commission’s report, which implies a conflict of interest on his part, about the awarding of contracts to close associates when he was Minister of Education 14 to 16 years ago.
He insisted in a statement issued late Wednesday that he did nothing wrong and said the matter had been referred to his lawyers.
“I strongly disagree with some of the report’s findings and have referred it to my lawyers. I strongly reject any suggestion or insinuation of wrongdoing, and I will do all in my power to ensure that the truth is known,” the Prime Minister said.
In the 107-page report, which was laid in Parliament on Tuesday, the Integrity Commission said it had referred the matter to the director of corruption prosecution for consideration concerning breaches of the Contractor General Act about contracts awarded to Westcon Construction Limited between February 2007 and November 2009.
Westcon’s directors were Robert Garvin and Donovan Simpson, both of whom Holness admitted to knowing for more than 20 years, although he said only Garvin is known to him “personally.”
According to the commission, Westcon was awarded ten contracts through the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information, totaling J$21.8 million (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008), but only five were reported to the Office of the Contractor General by way of the ministry’s quarterly contract award (QCA) reports for the period.
“In my response to the Integrity Commission queries of these dated matters, I made it clear that at no time have I ever exercised influence on any process for the award of contracts,” Holness said in response to the report.
“I strongly disagree with the findings of the Integrity Commission regarding conflict of interest based on mere association.”
He further explained that it had been the longstanding practice that Members of Parliament are asked to recommend local contractors to undertake works in their constituencies as a practical matter. This practice was introduced during the 1990s and has continued across multiple administrations.
“Furthermore, it is also the practice that the Member of Parliament recommends Constituency Project Officers for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). It is not unusual that CDF Projects Officers are already working in the constituency organization and are associated with the MP. I am certain that a review of local works and CDF Projects Officers will find that MP recommendations feature significantly in a vast number of them, and this has never been cited as exercising undue influence,” the Prime Minister said.
“The Integrity Commission’s report also ignores the circumstances of an emergency. In 2008, 15 years ago, the ‘Christmas Work’ program was late in starting, and workers faced a high probability of not being paid. I was asked to recommend an entity to facilitate the ‘Christmas Work Programme payment before the close of business for the Christmas holidays. This was done in good faith. To see this being targeted and made into something it is not is gravely disappointing.”
After the release of the Integrity Commission’s report, the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) said the revelations had exposed the country to international embarrassment.
“A head of Government should be beyond reproach, and it is unacceptable that accusations of impropriety have besmirched him,” said PNP leader Mark Golding.
“That the country’s principal integrity and anti-corruption body has found sufficient evidence to refer our prime minister for potential prosecution places Jamaica in an untenable position.”
However, in his statement on Wednesday, Holness insisted that he and the government he leads remain firmly committed to tackling corruption in Jamaica.
“The processes of doing so must, however, be practical, balanced, and fair to all concerned,” he added.
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