NO DISCLOSURE

Chief executive officer of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation Errol Lebert says the local government authority was not informed about a conflict of interest when it awarded three contracts to a company owned by Jason Hutchinson, the son of Government Minister William J.C. Hutchinson.

“At no time prior to or during the engagement of Prostar Electrical and Construction was the corporation informed of any conflict of interest between MP (Member of Parliament) Hutchinson and Prostar and Electrical Construction,” Lebert wrote in response to Gleaner queries about the findings of an Integrity Commission report.

On January 26, 2021, the commission launched an investigation into allegations of nepotism, impropriety, and irregularity in relation to contractors recommended and board appointments made by Hutchinson in his St Elizabeth North Western constituency.

The commission reported that the government lawmaker “directly and or ostensibly authorised” Claudette Baker-Archer, coordinator of the Constituency Development Fund, to recommend Prostar Electrical & Construction, for the award of contracts by the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation for the supply of electrical material and supplies.

Jason Hutchinson is the sole proprietor of the company.

On Wednesday, Lebert told The Gleaner that, between April and October 2018, the corporation received three letters from MP Hutchinson recommending that it engage the services of the company to supply electrical materials for the Lacovia Community Centre.

He said that the municipal corporation engaged the company through the direct contracting method of procurement, having realised that each of the transactions fell within the threshold.

It said that all government regulations were followed.

The contracts amounted to more than $700,000.

When contacted by The Gleaner last Thursday, the younger Hutchinson declined to comment on the matter.

The Integrity Commission, in its report released a week ago, recommended that Prime Minister Andrew Holness sanction Hutchinson, after its investigation concluded that his actions were adjudged to constitute a conflict of interest and for being cited for nepotism.

Additionally, the commission said that Lola Marshall-Williams, MP Hutchinson’s intimate partner of 32 years, was appointed to the board of five schools on at least 11 occasions on his recommendation.

But Robert Morgan, the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) with responsibility for information, has suggested that there will be no further sanctions against his parliamentary colleague.

Speaking at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Morgan said the report was only recently released and noted that more time is needed to review it.

“We also must remember that, when matters came up very early when the statements were made in relation to questions about Minister Hutchinson, he was sanctioned,” Morgan said.

“Mr Hutchinson moved from one place in the executive to another place which was lower. So, action was taken long ago,” he added.

But, challenged by The Gleaner that the recent investigation was as a result of a separate matter, the minister argued that it was “the same confluence of issues”.

However, in July 2020, Hutchinson, the then de facto agriculture minister, was shifted from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries to the Office of the Prime Minister, amid conflict-of-interest claims involving the Holland Estate land deal.

Documents revealed that Hutchinson was instrumental in helping an entity in which Marshall-Williams was a director and shareholder to get the approval to manage 2,400 acres of state-owned lands located in Holland, St Elizabeth.

It was also revealed that their son, Jason, also operated a company, Holland Farm and Garden Supplies, on the property.

“At the time, the Government looked at what was happening and the prime minister in his imprimatur made decisions as it relates to the status of the gentleman.

“Do remember that these investigations take years and we cannot wait on an investigation to act. So, we’ve acted previously on the matter,” Morgan said.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com