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St. Ann Municipal Corporation Office of the Contractor General November 2017
8.
In an effort to avoid even the slightest perception of political bias, conflict of interest and/or
favouritism, the OCG recommends that Members of Parliament and Councillors refrain from
making recommendations for the award of contracts to employees, political party affiliates and/or
operatives. The OCG is of the considered opinion that where this is permitted, the stain of
corruption, favouritism, and cronyism, whether real or perceived, will taint the integrity of the
contract, project or programme.
9.
It is recommended that the Auditor General’s Department conducts an immediate and
comprehensive audit of the contract award and procurement practices of the St. Ann Municipal
Corporation, in so far as it relates to the implementation and contract award process for CDF
projects, contracts and programmes.
10. The OCG strongly recommends that the CDF PMU conducts an audit of and/or closely monitor
the process through which projects, programmes, contractors and beneficiaries are selected by the
Office of the Member of Parliament, South East, St. Ann, to amongst other things, ensure proper
and effective management.
11. Where, however, a GOJ Development Project permits the receipt of recommendations from a
Member of Parliament and/or Minister of Government for the engagement of contractors, the
suitability of the recommended contractors should be, at a minimum, independently vetted by the
Procuring/Implementing Public Body with time being of the essence for completion of the
process.
12. Having regard to the false documents labelled as Exhibits “JM1” and “JM2”, which were
presented to the Contractor General by Mrs. Joan McDonald, who was aided and abetted by Ms.
Andrea Smith, who fabricated the said documents, the OCG recommends that a criminal
investigation is pursued.