Don't take this so personal, Minister Robertson

Sunday, July 04, 2010

It is very clear to us that Energy Minister James Robertson doesn't quite get it.

Huff and puff as he may about questions being asked by the Press regarding the approval of a bid by a consortium of local and foreign investors to establish a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal and Natural Gas Transportation System in Jamaica, he cannot escape this one fact: that the procurement process and the involvement of Mr Ian Moore in the consortium are issues that must be examined.

Minister Robertson is misguided in his belief that the media's scrutiny could jeopardise the project and that there are journalists intent on doing just that.

Rather, our concern, and that of our colleagues with whom we have discussed this issue, is the doubt that situations like this create in the minds of the public.

The consortium, which comprises Exmar, Promigas and Caribbean LNG (Jamaica), has said that no Government funds will be expended in this project in which it is investing US$600 million.

The project, we are told, will supply Jamaica with a cheaper source of energy by 2013 and, according to Minister Robertson, will shave approximately US$900 million off the country's energy bill.

If that can be achieved we would be extremely happy for Jamaica, as we have always argued in this space that the country needs to find ways to slash its oil bill which amounts to somewhere in the region of US$2 billion annually.

According to the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), its checks of the records of the Registrar of Companies of Jamaica show Mr Moore as a director of Caribbean LNG (Jamaica) which was incorporated in Jamaica on June 19, 2009, approximately seven months after he demitted office as chairman of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ).

The OCG said its search also found that the listed majority shareholder of Caribbean LNG (Jamaica) is a corporate entity named Caribbean LNG (BVI) Limited, which is registered off-shore in the British Virgin Islands and holds 5.2 million shares, or approximately 80 per cent of the indicative issued share capital of Caribbean LNG (Jamaica) Limited.

Where the major problem arises is in the OCG's claim that the LNG procurement process was initiated in April 2007. At that time, Mr Moore was still chairman of the PCJ.

The contractor general and the Press cannot therefore be faulted for wanting to determine whether Mr Moore's firm benefited from any insider information he would have acquired while he chaired the PCJ board.

Mr Moore may very well have acted above board in this issue, and he has clearly stated that he has nothing to hide. In fact, he has instructed Caribbean LNG's corporate secretary, Coverdale Trust Services Limited — domiciled in the BVI — to furnish all relevant information pertaining to Caribbean LNG to the OCG to further assist it with its probe.

We submit though, that while the OCG's investigation may determine that there was no impropriety on Mr Moore's part, all this could have been avoided had there been regulation that delays, say for two years, holders of sensitive positions in public office from investing in projects in the sectors in which they served. Especially if the project was initiated during the life of their tenure.

That, we suspect, would protect people with a wish to invest their own money from the pain of unnecessary accusations and suspicion.

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COMMENTS (10)

W M
7/11/2010

Mr. Ian Moore was NOT the chairman of PCJ at April 2007 as the current Opposition party was still in charge of the country.

Dev Mckoy
7/7/2010

There is another report which suggests that the Principals of Caribbean LNG (BVI) Ltd, the 80% shareholders in Caribbean LNG is Unknown. Is this saying that the Government of Jamaica has once again negotiated with a company and awarded a contract without actually knowing who they awarded it to?? and why couldnt the request for proposal go to public tender internationally? Couldnt we have gotten a better deal? How do we know this is the best deal in town when nobody else got a chance to negotiate

Yellow Belly
7/5/2010

Pray for the people of the OCG. They are a breath of fresh air. The ministers of the various administrations seem to believe that once elected they have carte blanche to act as Lords of the castle.
There is a new day dawning. Politicians are servants, not bosses and you have to do as we please. And we insist on transparency, zero kickbacks, nil bribes, nought influence peddling and full decency.
So probe on and on and on and EXPOSE them.

ric bent
7/5/2010

Did Minister Robertson really suggest that " the media's scrutiny could jeopardise the project and that there are journalists intent on doing just that ." ? These clowns still dont get it that they work for the people and are playing with the peoples money. Well, if the project cant pass the smell test, there is a problem.

John Smith
7/4/2010

Indeed. The government should get accustomed to transparency. Healthy democracies thrive on it.

Chris Miss jones
7/4/2010

I used to think that when someone ran for public office got elected then got appointed as a Minister he/she was bright. I guess the joke is on me, I am the dunce. In modern civilized well run societies openess, transparency and non-discrimination is the only game in town. The days when a few "back scratchers" did as they pleased and the rest of society be damned are over. Too few are rotten rich while the majority remain poor, for this to be tolerated. The sooner they understand this the better

Paul Gentles
7/4/2010

OCG and Observer - find out the source of funds invested whilst you are at it.People have been utilising/spending money way above their earnings,are these "loans" and where from?

Maroon Descendant
7/4/2010

The incarcerated one will take care of him.

JA Cynic
7/4/2010

When I grow up, I would like to be a local consultant to a foreign firm which has obtained a multi-million U$ contract with the GOJ.In the meanwhile, I will just have to assist in funding the election campaign of the party likely to win the next election.That should put me in good stead
JA Cynic

John Christian
7/4/2010

Minister and other heads of statutory Bodies...Do not be afraid of Transperancy...to operate in a civilized manner it is necessary....keep asking Questions Observer.

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Don't take this so personal, Minister Robertson