Gov’t to sign contracts for multi-million dollar project

Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer

The Government will today sign contracts for one of the multi-billion dollar projects which have come under the scrutiny of the Contractor General’s office.

Works Minister Dr. Omar Davies and Finance Minister Dr. Peter Phillips are scheduled to sign the implementation and concession agreements with the contractor for the North-South link of Highway 2000.

The signing is set to take place at the Ministry’s St Andrew offices at 1 p.m.

In April, Dr. Davies announced that Cabinet had given approval for work to continue on the North-South link and for the construction of the Fort Augusta Container terminal and the Gordon Cay Transhipment hub.

However, faced with challenges from the OCG, the Works Minister established an independent oversight panel to monitor the projects.

Today’s signing comes two days after the Contractor General Greg Christie raised fresh concerns about the projects.

Christie said in May he wrote to members of the panel requesting that they submit written reports outlining the details of their deliberations on the projects.

However, he said the Attorney General Patrick Atkinson has written to his office challenging its authority to demand the information.

Christie said the Attorney General has also informed his office that it will seek a judicial review of the matter.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com