(Jamaica Gleaner) A senior member of the Government has declared the administration will not allow the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) to be a stumbling block in the engagement of private entities as the state moves to take advantage of investment opportunities.
“This is not picking a fight with the contractor general. He has his work to do, but not only do we have our work to do, but we (also) have an obligation to respond to the real needs in the society for economic development,” Dr Omar Davies, the minister of transport, works and housing, told members of the House of Representatives yesterday.
Davies, who is also acting prime minister, in a statement to Parliament announced that an independent oversight panel has been established to expand the framework for monitoring the award of contracts.
The body is to be chaired by Professor Gordon Shirley, principal and pro-vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Mona. He is to be joined by businessman R. Danny Williams, and Everton McDonald, a retired territory senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Projects approved
Davies announced the establishment of the panel while revealing that Cabinet has given approval for the continuation of three projects – the completion of the north-south link of Highway 2000; the Gordon Cay Container Transhipment hub, and the Fort Augusta Container terminal.
The OCG, headed by Greg Christie, had expressed it was not in agreement with the direct negotiations with investors in relation to these three projects. The office had said the projects should be subjected to competitive tender.
Yesterday, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness and North Central Clarendon Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles said they were uncomfortable with the reason for which the panel has been established.
Holness questioned whether Davies was seeking to replace the OCG with the panel.
