Christie to probe Jamaica independence bash in UK

(CNS): Jamaica’s contractor general is undergoing a review of the public money spent on the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, in particular those that took place in the UK. Greg Christie said that as a result of a number of allegations made to his office of “irregular and improper government spending, and 'nepotism', in respect of the Independence Celebrations” and the public disquiet over the alleged lack of information on the public money spent in the United Kingdom, the OCG has written to Robert Martin, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, asking for all the relevant documents.

“The OCG has requested a copy of the approved budget for the Jamaica 50 Anniversary Celebrations, together with a full accounting in respect of each budget line item to include (a) the particulars of all contracts that were awarded, (b) the names of the respective contractors, (c) the values of the respective contracts, (d) the procurement methodologies that were utilized and, (e) the locations at which the contracts were performed,” the OCG said in a release this week.

As well as examining whether the public got value for money, Christie will be looking at the alleged one million pounds sterling (£1,000,000) which was spent on the London-based Independence Celebrations; air transportation expenditures from Jamaica to the United Kingdom and back; and accommodation expenditures within the UK, as well as the various contracts related to the celebrations.

“In the interest of public transparency, the OCG will table the results of its review in Parliament,” said Christie.