Gov't seeks advice of solicitor general on LNG issue

Friday, June 03, 2011

GOVERNMENT has sought the assistance of the solicitor general in navigating the legal issues contained in the Office of the Contractor General's (OCG)'s report on the award of a contract related to the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.

The minister responsible for information, Daryl Vaz, reported Wednesday that Cabinet has invited Solicitor General Douglas Leys to its next sitting to provide legal advice on the report as well as examine any legal claim which might be made by Exmar Consortium -- the preferred bidder for the construction of a floating storage and re-gasification unit for LNG.

Contractor General Greg Christie alleged that there were several irregularities in the tender process which resulted in the emergence of the Exmar Consortium as the preferred bidder.

Vaz told journalists at Wednesday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House in Kingston that although Cabinet discussed the matter in details, it was agreed that the members needed more time to study the OCG's 609-page report.

He said the bidder has also requested to respond to the OCG report and this due process should be allowed.

"...So the decision was taken both to have the input of the solicitor general and also a written submission from the successful bidder in response to the OCG," Vaz said

The Government, he said, had taken into consideration that Exmar has threatened legal action.

"That is why we have requested the solicitor general's input based on the fact that the issues raised in the report speak more to internal procedural matters and really have nothing to do with the successful bidder in terms of the bid," Vaz said.

As such, he maintained that the matter definitely required legal input.

Christie, who made the recommendation in a report presented to Parliament last week, alleged that there may have been conspiracy on the part of several individuals to benefit illicitly from the deal struck with Exmar Consortium to supply LNG via a storage and re-gasification floating facility last year.

Christie named former chairman of the board of directors of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Ian Moore and former LNG project co-ordinator for the PCJ Stephen Wedderburn, who are tied to Caribbean LNG (Jamaica), which is part of the Exmar Consortium, saying he was leaving it to the director of public prosecutions and the commissioner of police to determine whether Moore and/or Wedderburn "used their offices in a conspiratory, fraudulent, corrupt, clandestine and/or surreptitious manner to ensure a future illicit benefit for themselves".

Former chairman of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Ian Moore, and the Exmar Corporation have both denied any wrongdoing.

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COMMENTS (1)

Ainsworth Cole
6/3/2011

When are we going to move forward with development and wealth creation, will we ever be in a position where we have sustained growth with jobs been created due to economic expansion fueled by Industrial expansion. Aluminium is prices is rising and have risen sharply on the world market, here in Jamaica we messed up and continue to do so while the rest of the world race ahead. When will we ever become true to doing what is required of us so we can reach our goals, frankly I am very sick of it all

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Gov't seeks advice of solicitor general on LNG issue