PSOJ questions Shaw's assertions about sweetheart deal

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling on finance and the public service minister Audley Shaw to provide clarity on questions he raised regarding a "sweetheart deal" involving an investor and a government agency.

In a release yesterday, the PSOJ said it found the comments regarding the Oceana transaction made by Shaw in his closing Budget presentation to be "unfortunate".

"The finance minister publicly queried whether the transaction amounted to a 'sweetheart deal', which may be perceived to question the motive of the private investors in the transaction," the PSOJ stated.

"While the PSOJ understands and encourages the need to ensure that public funds are spent in a transparent and value-added manner, we must be reminded that unsubstantiated, public comments or assertions like those made by a high-ranking government official carry much weight in influencing private sector, local or global, decisions to invest in our country," the PSOJ added.

On Tuesday, former chairman of the Urban Development Corporation K.D. Knight said former members of the board of the corporation were hurt by the remarks Shaw made in Parliament.