Where's the ackee judge when we need her?

Friday, December 02, 2011

Dear Editor,

For some time now enquiring minds have questioned why the markup for the construction of the bridges over Cassia Park and Queensborough had increased so significantly since 2005. Granted, prices in general had increased, but with commodity markets hitting the skids and building material cheaper now in 2011 than in 2005 when adjusted for inflation, the increase seemed unwarranted.

Now we know why: it turns out that China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was guaranteed a 20 per cent markup. My first question will always be: who negotiates our contracts? It seems that every contract our government signs, no matter who is in charge, leaves us holding the bag or gives away our assets at minimal prices. The maths reveal that 20 per cent of the signed contract price is $30.84 million and $36.74 million respectively on Cassia Park and Queensborough.

Now we also find out that CHEC and the National Works Agency agreed without the consultation of Parliament or the Office of the Contractor General to an extra 5 per cent markup, which should now be called the "slush fund", or as the NWA calls it, the Institutional Strengthening Fund. These funds account for $7.71 million and $9.18 million respectively. Between the two bridges, that is $84.75 million not being spent on the actual bridges, which, strangely enough, neither party paid for as it was the famous "Mabey-Hibbert" bridges that were used.

OK, now I get it! Now I understand why there was such a dramatic markup between the 2005 prices and the 2011 prices. More corruption. Where is the ackee judge when we need her? Oops, I forgot that our politicians cannot live in the obvious squalor of prison, so it's only the poor who spend time behind those bars, while our politicians "belly up" to the other kind to celebrate their success at duping us once again.

KJ Gordon-Martin

kjairusa@gmail.com