Our story in yesterday’s (6) iNews Cayman headed “Banned: CHEC’s parent company by World Bank” has appeared in differing forms in all of Cayman’s popular media sites and they all point to the same question:

Should the Cayman Islands government be dealing with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)?

Let me reiterate this damaging statement from no less a person than Jamaica’s Contractor General, Greg Christie, “The World Bank Group has identified corruption as one of the single greatest obstacles to economic and social development in its member countries, inclusive of Jamaica.”

It would appear that China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) has been debarred since January 2009 by the World Bank, under the Bank’s ‘Fraud and Corruption Sanctioning Policy.’ CCCC is the parent company of CHEC

The independent Office of the Contractor General (OCG), which is tasked with monitoring government contracts in Jamaica, issued a strongly worded statement,

“CHEC is a major subsidiary of CCCC, and one of the two entities that is currently listed by CCCC as its “overseas business” as such the debarment automatically extends to CHEC.”

The World Bank Group has identified corruption as one of the single greatest obstacles to economic and social development in its member countries, inclusive of Jamaica.

Our Premier McKeeva Bush is facing considerable opposition from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office over his decision to negotiate with CHEC OUTSIDE INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT STANDARDS! But, he insists CHEC is the best company for the job.

As you know I do not like the majority of the blogging that goes on but there was one I MUST agree with. The blogger asks, “how did the Premier learn of CHEC in the first place or who suggested that he meet with them? The Premier was in Italy observing GLF projects when he suddenly decided to meet with CHEC.”

Now wouldn’t we all like to know the answer to that one?

Yes, we know the Chinese do not need the World Bank money but does one want to be associated with a company WHO WE HAVE TO TRUST to construct the largest project in our history that is going to make such a mark on all our future, with a reputation of CORRUPTION”?

And with the UK raising concerns, and the premier lashing out with verbal tirades and disgraceful accusations of “insidious” behaviour at H.E. Governor Taylor because he asks pertinent questions as to why proper procedures of due diligence were not executed, the Chinese deal does not look at all lily white.

It always looked a big shade of yellow when it first was announced. Now the shade is getting darker as the months roll by.