OCG Calls for the Establishment of a Fair, Transparent and Competitive Process for the Selection of Sub-Contractors for Major GOJ Infrastructural and Investment Projects

Kingston; January 29, 2013 – The Office of the Contractor General (OCG) has renewed its call for the Government of Jamaica to establish a fair, transparent and competitive process for the selection of Local Sub-Contractors who are currently engaged or who may become engaged on prospective Major Infrastructural and Investment Projects which are undertaken by, for and on behalf of, or in conjunction with the Government.

The OCG’s recommendation was captured in a four (4) page letter, that was sent by Acting Contractor General, Craig Beresford, to Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, and copied to the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller and the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Andrew Holness, amongst other State Officials.

In its referenced letter, the OCG expressed that whilst it remains cognizant of the impending aspiration to reform the Government’s Procurement Policy and its supporting Legislative framework in keeping with global realities and the availability of capital, every effort should be made to preserve the fundamental principles of equity of access and value for money, especially since the ultimate total cost for any investment has a direct correlation with its internal rate of return and, consequently, any payback.

The OCG, in its letter lamented that the implementation of a fair, transparent and competitive process for the selection of Local Sub-Contractors would create greater opportunities for all qualified and competent local contractors to benefit, thereby, providing well needed thrust to stimulate economic development and employment opportunities, especially as it relates to the Construction Sector and many of our Graduates.

“…a fair and transparent process for the selection of Sub-Contractors for major Government- associated projects has the potential to further stimulate the construction sector which can translate into new business opportunities for our many graduates, in a construction-related field, and who may have the entrepreneurial spirit to establish their own legitimate business entities, in order to participate in these proposed Investments and Infrastructural Projects…” Craig Beresford, Acting Contractor General explained.

The OCG posited that such a process could commence immediately with the implementation and execution of the North South Link of Highway 2000, and be undertaken in unison with the project’s overall implementation to avoid any unnecessary delays.

This initiative, the OCG explained, would send a clear signal to the international community and prospective Investors that Jamaica is serious about transparency, competition, equity of access and remains committed to eliminating any perception of corruption and/or political interference in the selection of Local Sub-Contractors.

The OCG has been actively advocating for action on this recommendation from as early as September 2010, when it wrote to the then Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alwin Hales, in the then Ministry of Transport and Works, following upon the implementation of the US$400M Jamaica Development Infrastructural Programme (JDIP). The OCG’s recommendation was again tendered to the current Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Mrs. Audrey Sewell, by way of a letter which was dated March 19, 2012, as it regards the implementation of the North South Link of Highway 2000.