OCG investigates JDIP contract with China Harbour

(Go Jamaica): It appears that a claim by the government that it had to hire a Chinese firm to execute the US$400M Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) as part of a loan agreement maybe false. This was revealed in a release from the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) in which it announced it would be launching a special investigation into the award of the contract to China Harbour Engineering Company.The OCG says it decided to investigate the matter following permanent secretary in the transport and works ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales’ failure to substantiate claims that the loan from the China Exim Bank came with a precondition that a Chinese company had to be contracted to carry out the project.

The claim was made by transport and works minister, Mike Henry in a rebuttal of a media release by the OCG.The OCG had raised concerns that such a large contract had been awarded to one entity and without being put to tender. The OCG says its examination of the contractual and financing documentation between the China Exim Bank and Jamaica did not substantiate Henry’s claims.

The OCG says it therefore wrote to the permanent Secretary on June 28 asking that he provide evidence to substantiate the minister’s claim.

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