Petrojam probe will include opposition's stewardship - Chang

General Secretary of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Dr Horace Chang says the probe into the operations at Petrojam will include how the state-owned oil refinery was managed by the previous administration and those found in breach will be held accountable.

In a statement this afternoon, Chang said,“We (JLP) are not fearful of the opposition fulfilling its role of oversight and criticism but I want to say to them that our reform process will also include a deep assessment of their stewardship of PetroJam and the chips will fall where they lay. This is what is in the best interest of the people of Jamaica,".

The opposition has been hammering the government over Petrojam, where there have been allegations of nepotism and financial mismanagement, among other concerns.

READ: Probe Petrojam - Christie Says Integrity Body Should Investigate 

Earlier this week, Cabinet announced the appointed of three new Jamaica directors to the Petrojam board and ordered an investigation.

READ: New Jamaican Directors Appointed To Petrojam Board

Chang said the party backs the approach of the government in its handling of issues related to Petrojam.

“The government has the full support of the JLP in its efforts to get the facts related to the issues at Petrojam floating in the public domain. It is only through a fact-based exercise that there can be any objective outcome that fulfills the government's commitment to accountability and transparency ….this government under this Prime Minister is best placed to deal with any issue that is revealed," he said.

Chang added that Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who is also the leader of the JLP, has demonstrated the leadership necessary to ensure that public service entities work in the interest of the people of Jamaica.

“We are here to transform government for the people. The work of the government in dealing with issues of accountability has been commended both locally and internationally. This has been under the leadership of Prime Minister Holness. There are longstanding institutional issues within the public sector including at Petrojam that need to be addressed,”. 

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