Mr Greg Christie and Ms Paula Llewellyn

Thursday, September 23, 2010

THIS week, Mr Greg Christie submitted to Parliament 110 copies of the 23rd Annual Report of the Office of the Contractor General, representing the stewardship of the OCG for 2009.

We share Mr Christie's obvious pride in his work, even if the backslapping was a tad off-putting:

"The OCG's 2009 Annual Report marks a major accomplishment in the continuing pursuit, by the OCG, of its strategic objective to become a 'best-in-class' institution and to provide a greater measure of public scrutiny of not only the Government's contract award and procurement activities, but also of the work of the OCG in its satisfaction of its mandates under the Contractor General Act," the OCG news release trumpeted.

"At 1,033 pages, of which more than 700 are dedicated to indexed appendices of those of the OCG's many contract monitoring activities that were undertaken during the course of the year, the OCG's 2009 Annual Report will now stand as the organisation's most definitive publication in its 25 year-plus history, and as a lasting testimony to the hard work and unparalleled commitment of its 58-person staff complement."

We think such encomiums should come in its own time from the Jamaican people expressing their approval and satisfaction with the work of the Office of the Contractor General.

That aside though, we remain fully in support of the work of Mr Christie and his staff. At the rate the OCG is going under Mr Christie's brave leadership and example, Jamaica is and will be better for it. And we will yet sing the praises of Mr Christie and his staff.

The 2009 report gives clear proof that the job of cleaning up corruption in this our beloved nation, is by no means an easy one.

For example, Mr Christie complains, yet again, about the failure of a number of state agencies to act quickly enough, or at all, on the recommendations made by his office after his investigations.

He names the offices of the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Corruption Prevention Commission and the Auditor General's Department among the offenders.

"The OCG continues to be gravely concerned about what appears to be a failure on the part of certain state institutions to which the formal OCG statutory investigations-based referrals are made to either act upon or respond to the said statutory referrals in a timely manner or at all. In many instances, not even an acknowledgment of the receipt of the OCG referrals is received from some of the subject institutions," the contractor general lamented.

Unless the OCG has been discharging its mandate ultra vires, we cannot understand why these critical agencies would be tardy in acting on the recommendations.

The 2009 report noted, among other things, that the OCG had made over 30 formal criminal offence referrals to Miss Paula Llewellyn's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, as at December last year, but none of these had given rise directly or indirectly to a criminal charge, arrest or prosecution.

Before we start to hear any bleating about lack of human and financial resources as the cause, let's be very clear: it makes little sense to have the OCG do all that work, if the very agencies which must follow through, sit down on their butts and do nothing.

Miss Llewellyn is also on the very short list of people who have our full backing. We, and the nation, would like to hear from her.

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COMMENTS (13)

Ras Rose
9/25/2010

There are some people here that is talking alot a nonsense .Mr Christie did alot investigation and found evidence that people in high places are involve in criminal behavior and it's not a priority.Isn't better to clean from the top and then get at the bottom to get rid of corruption. Miss llewellynneed to get there priority straight and stop with this nonsense about people a bother her

blog dis
9/24/2010

@Brooklyn Well said

Norman Lee
9/24/2010

@ Trevor Dawes, read "Brooklyn Jamaican's" post. With the police now have a new freedom, and the recent SOE there has been many arrest and charges. Thats the good part! The sad part is that Paula's dept may now be overwhelmed. While I agree that corruption must be dealt with, crimes / charges which endanger public safety ought to be priority so that these cases reach trial in a reasonable time. Accused must not languish in prison. Persons from Greg's files are free and are no "danger" to society

baerie guy
9/23/2010

It seems that some in jamaica believe they are above the law.The pure arrogance of some reflects why politics corrupts and corrupts absolutely.Everyone in position of authority should bein subject to recall and fined for holding the country hostage to their tin king delusional acts.There is nothing jamaicans hate more than shame so I say shame them in the media and deny them any future government jobs.When found guilty make public flogging mandatory and forget so called cruel and unusual ideas.

norris Richards
9/23/2010

Mr. Christie is a professional who knows his responsibilities and who he is working for. The politicians and other key crime fighters talk about fighting corruption, but are they really serious about reducing it.
The key corruption fighters are the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the DPP office and the courts, if they are not firing on all cylinders forget it. The law is blind it does not differentiate between wrong doers.

Trevor Dawes
9/23/2010

Norman Lee, nobody wants to see anyone's constitutional rights violated but those accused of contravening GOJ procurement rules and regs don't want to have that black cloud hanging over their heads forever either. It should not be taking the DPP and her staff 2+ yrs to decide on the merits of a single referral from the OCG's office. The ODPP is not helping in the fight against corruption in gov't that hopefully you would like to see end or effectively addressed.

Norman Lee
9/23/2010

Greg must not allow zeal to captivate him despite the public’s admiration of his work. Paula’s role is set out in the constitution, sec 94 and Greg should refresh his recollection. In particular should pay attention to 94(6) as his report suggests he is directing that criminal proceedings should commence. Paula’s work is at a higher level and requires careful scrutiny of files sent to her office. She must ensure that the constitutional rights of persons is protected and not violated by innuendo.

N Manley Blythe
9/23/2010

Fret not thyself Mr Christie, thanks for the effort. Keep it up!
Mr Christie, both you and the DPP have basket fi carry water. Your office is devoid of teeth, Ms Llewelyn's office is devoid of an entire justice system!
Nonetheless, keep up the pressure, the international agencies are watching. It's a shame, but apparently pressure has to come from outside to effect meaningful change.
Notice, neither the JLP nor PNP have made it priority to give you teeth or make efficient our justice system.

N Manley Blythe
9/23/2010

Whoops! Sorry, my previous post was meant for the Burke column.

N Manley Blythe
9/23/2010

I am sick and tired of both these deadbeat parties. Neither the JLP nor the PNP has our best interests at heart. The proof - big chat when in opposition, abject nonsense when in power. It is time for both these dead horses to be buried.
What is the point of 20 years of PNP rule if we are still illiterate? What is the point of 3 years of JLP rule if their greatest achievement is to sabotage themselves?
The NDM seems dead in the water. I want to hear more about the New Nation Coalition (NNC)!

David Armstrong
9/23/2010

Obviously Mr. Christie is a well trained professional man with an independent and patriotic mind. Jamaica today needs more people to follow his example of dedication to the service of his country. In this climate of culture that breeds violent crime, corruption, and people like Dudus it requires great courage, conviction, and principles to do what Mr. Christie is doing. It is disturbing that the agencies listed as offenders in not taking action to his recommendations have not been responsive.

Duncan Bertram
9/23/2010

Portia Simpson Miller the next Prime Minister and Greg Christie the next Director of Public Prosecutions. Hardley Lewin Governor General. All things are possible. To restore the level of trust, the level of integrity, the level of hope, the level of confidence, the level of fairness that Jamaica deserve this would be an exceptional combination of leaders. Jamaica needs a revolution and these revolutionaries are highly capable. Lead the way Sista P, lead the way. Arise jamaica and stand up 4 urs.

Brooklyn Jamaican
9/23/2010

Mr Editor, all of what you have said is true, except that Mr Christie's cases are no more important than the cases of those who want to see prosecutions for the murder, maiming and rape of their relative. He has to wait in line like everyone else. Also how can you discount the lack of human and financial capital in the Jamaican context? That Mr. Observer is a bit disingenuous.

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Mr Greg Christie and Ms Paula Llewellyn