Cuban Light Bulb report recommendations

The Office of the Contractor General is recommending a strengthening of due diligence systems to prevent the influence of the political directorate on the administrative arm of government.



Contractor General Greg Christie wants the members of the executive and political directorate to be prohibited from committing the government to binding contracts.



This was among several recommendations made by Mr. Christie following his investigation into the controversial Cuban light bulb distribution project.



In his report obtained by the Gleaner Power 106 News yesterday, Mr. Christie cited several breaches of government procurement guidelines and legislative provisions.



He also called upon the Police Commissioner, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Corruption Prevention Commission to determine whether criminal and corruption charges should be laid against the former junior energy state minister, Kern Spencer.



In addition they are to determine whether there was a criminal conspiracy between Mr. Spencer and other persons such as his child’s mother Sherene Shakes and her mother, Verdie Mair.



Approximately $276 million was spent to distribute the $4 million free Cuban light bulbs.



According to Mr. Christie the project did not have the approval of the board of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), or its Group Managing Director, Dr. Ruth Potopsingh.



In this regard, Mr. Christie has recommended that the Auditor General investigate how much money was disbursed to the contractors under the light bulb project as well as the $24 million in over expenditure.



The Contractor General has also recommended an immediate review of the accounting, procurement and public administration practices at the Energy Ministry and the PCJ.



Based on his findings Mr. Christie said there was nothing to suggest that the former energy minister Phillip Paulwell should be held accountable for the breaches under the light bulb programme.



In response Kern Spencer said he’s not worried by the findings of the Contractor General. Mr. Spencer told The Gleaner/Power 106 News that there are gaps in the report.



He said some of the conclusions are flawed and he will highlight them when he addresses the matter soon.



He also said neither he nor his company – Butterfly Traders Limited – benefited financially from the light bulb project.



Instead, Mr. Spencer claims that he made sacrifices for the programme, and that at no point was there any attempt at cronyism.



Political analyst, Kevin O’Brien Chang said the Contractor General’s latest report could further hurt the image of the Opposition People’s National Party.



He says with the possibility of snap election this year, the PNP should be particularly worried.