(Jamaica Gleaner) A coalition of private sector and civil society interest groups are calling for the tender process for the 360 megawatt project to be aborted.
They say there are too many unanswered questions surrounding the process and controversy facing the preferred bidder, Energy World International.
The interest groups say they recognise their call will further delay a project that has become a matter of national necessity.
However, they say it is better to make the tough call now rather than later when the project cannot be completed or the promised savings on energy costs are not realised.
The groups are calling for Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to appoint a joint public-private committee similar to the Economic Programme Oversight Committee for the IMF programme.
The groups making yesterday’s call are Jamaica Chamber of Com-merce, Jamaica Civil Society Coali-tion, the Jamaica Exporters Associa-tion, the Jamaica Manufacturers Association, Citizens United to Reduce Electricity, Jamaicans United for Sustainable Development, the MSME Alliance and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica.
Energy World International was named as the preferred bidder on October 4 after Azurest Cambridge Power failed to meet the deadline to come up with the US$6.9 million project bond.
The Contractor General had objected to the EWI’s inclusion in the process as he said the EWI benefited from irregular and improper intervention by Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell.
