Contractor General reports fraud down

Credits its increased scrutiny of Government contracts

Jamaica Observer

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

THE Office of the Contractor General (OCG) is crediting its "proactive efforts" for reportedly reducing the amount of fraud detected in Government contracts.

In a statement today, the OCG said that since the implementation in September 2010, of a 100 per cent due diligence evaluation of all of the particulars of works contractor registration and re-registration application forms, two of the 109 applications showed evidence of fraud. The OCG contrasted this figure with the 52 of 178 works contractor applications which were ‘pulled’ from the system to be investigated for fraud during the 14-month period ended August 2010.

"The OCG believes that the drastic reduction in the number of works contractors, who were corrupting or undermining the Government Contractor registration and re-registration processes, is directly linked to the fact that Contractors are now acutely aware that their applications will be thoroughly and dispassionately scrutinised by the OCG for false representations and forged documentation," said the OCG.

Three contractor entities directly linked to individuals presently before the courts on serious criminal charges, are among those the PCG has recommended should be removed from the National Contracts Commission (NCC) register of approved Government works contractors.

In those cases, the OCG said it found "compelling evidence of fraud, forged documentation, and/or misrepresentations regarding their professional staff, financial resources and/or project experience."

The values of contracts awarded and/or endorsed to the three contractors are $222 million, $44 million and $109 million respectively.