Former executives of public bodies referred to DPP by contractor general
Published:Tuesday | April 4, 2017 | 12:00 AMEdmond Campbell
Contractor General Dirk Harrison has referred three former executives of public bodies to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) following an investigation into procurement related expenditure of the Jamaica 50 celebrations.
In a report that was tabled in Parliament yesterday, Harrison said he started the investigation in January 2012 following pronouncements by then culture minister Lisa Hanna on the television programme 'Impact'.
Spending on the Jamaica 50 celebrations spanned administrations, but the lion's share of expenditure totalling more than $700 million was spent under Hanna's stewardship.
The following are excerpts from the Office of the Contractor General investigation:
The Ministry of Youth and Culture (MOYC), the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and the Jamaica Tourist Board failed to report to the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), the particulars of certain contracts which were awarded for the Jamaica 50 celebrations, by way of their respective quarterly contract award (QCA) reports. Having regard to the foregoing, the OCG, pursuant to Section 29 of the Contractor General Act, hereby refers a copy of its report of investigation to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) for such actions as the ODPP may deem to be applicable, against the then accountable officers of the following public bodies:
1. The former permanent secretary of the MOYC (2012).
2. The former executive director, JCDC and (2012).
3. The former director of tourism and chairman of the JTB board (2012).
In furtherance of the OCG's findings and conclusions, John Lynch failed to outline, in the respective QCA report and submission, the award of the contracts valued at £102,139 for the London-based component of the Jamaica 50 celebrations in 2012:
Delroy Gordon, the late former executive director, JCDC, also failed to outline in the respective QCA report and submission the award of contracts worth $80 million for the local component of the Jamaica 50 celebrations in 2012.
Additionally, Robert Martin failed to report in the respective QCA Report and submission, the award of contracts worth $3.3 million for the local component of the Jamaica 50 celebrations in 2012.