AG challenges OCG

Debbie- Ann Wright, News Editor
The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre

Attorney general Patrick Atkinson is challenging the validity of the law under which the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) is seeking to get information from the independent oversight panel set up to monitor three government projects.

The panel was set up to monitor the North-South Link of Highway 2000 Project, the Gordon Cay Container Trans-Shipment Hub Project, and the Fort Augusta Container Terminal Project.

But the contractor General Greg Christie has objected to the panel claiming the government is seeking to circumvent his office.

And Christie has requisitioned the panel requesting that it routinely submit to the OCG, formal written reports outlining particulars of its oversight activities regarding the three projects.

But the OCG says despite being given two extensions the panel is yet to respond to its requisition.

And it says the attorney general has now written to the OCG to challenge the validity of the law under which the OCG is seeking to monitor the panel.

Atkinson has reportedly said he does not agree that the OCG has the power to requisition the panel and will be seeking to have the matter resolved by the Supreme Court by way of a judicial review.

But the OCG is insisting it has acted lawfully and says the Administration’s latest move is an abuse of the judicial process and an obvious delay tactic.

The OCG says it has secured the services of Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, and will, soon advise of its intended course of action in response to this latest development.

debbie-ann.wright@gleanerjm.com