Henry resigns

Gives ongoing attacks on JDIP as reason for quitting Cabinet

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

MIKE Henry last night resigned as Transport and Works Minister with immediate effect amidst swirling controversy over the troubled Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) which was the focus of yesterday’s sitting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

In a late-night statement, Henry said he had tendered his resignation in light of the ongoing attacks on the JDIP, “which continue despite the prime minister and I having acted to address the issue”.

He said that as the line minister, he has taken full responsibility for the issues which have arisen.

“There is nothing to hide about my stewardship of the JDIP, which is very important to the country, and I look forward to the conclusion of the ongoing investigations,” Henry said.

His reference was to a review of the road rehabilitation programme ordered by Prime Minister Andrew Holness after Patrick Wong was cashiered on November 19 as CEO of the National Works Agency (NWA), which has responsibility for the US$400-million JDIP.

In addition to sacking Wong, Holness had also stripped Henry of all responsibilities for the JDIP and had taken temporary charge of the programme.

“Prime Minister Andrew Holness has taken temporary control of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) with a view to reviewing and improving the operating, accounting, reporting and general management structures of the project,” a news release from the Office of the Prime Minister had stated on November 19. It also made it clear that no new work orders would be issued for works which had not already been approved and funded.

“The services of an independent consulting firm are being procured to provide oversight and quality assurance to determine value for money. The independent consultant will operate from the Office of the Prime Minister and provide technical advice on project prioritisation, evaluate the various work activities, review payment certificates and work orders, as well as provide project management oversight of JDIP,” the release added.

Holness acted after Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis tabled a special report on the programme in Parliament on November 15 in which she stated that the Ministry of Transport and Works, the NWA and the Road Maintenance Fund had not executed the programme in a transparent manner.

“This is evidenced by inadequate capital project planning, monitoring and record keeping,” Monroe Ellis said. “The deficiencies highlighted in this report threaten the Government’s objective to achieve its goal to improve the country’s road infrastructure under the Preferential Buyers Credit Facility with the Chinese Ex-Im Bank.”

In one of her findings, Monroe Ellis said contrary to the provisions of the Government’s procurement guidelines, the NWA used the sole source method to award a contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for approximately $102 million to refurbish its corporate offices, without the required approval of the National Contracts Commission.

That issue was raised yesterday at the PAC which also heard that five 40-foot containers of furniture valued at $62 million were discovered by Contractor General Greg Christie yesterday on the premises of the NWA and that they had been procured using funds allocated for the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Works Project. (See related story headlined ‘Rogue agency’).

Last night, a highly placed Government source said that Henry was not pushed to resign.

“He was the man in charge of the programme, and so the buck stopped with him,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, Henry tendered his resignation during “an informal meeting” of some members of the Cabinet at Vale Royal, the official residence of the prime minister.

Henry, in his statement, thanked the persons who supported him over the years in which he served in the Cabinet, especially his constituents in Central Clarendon, and from where, he said, he “will be focussing more of my energy at this time”.

Related article:

'Rogue agency' - Phillips blasts NWA

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COMMENTS (46)

Beresford Davidson
11/30/2011

The Hon., Mike Henry I knew for over 35 years is a doer and not no player in pettiness politics. That kind of nonsense are for kids. He can get the job done so back off. All because of the size of the money all sorts of dirty hands with sticky fingers from everywhere unproductive and squandering come running. Don't care what they say about Henry he is a productive MP more so than all others in the opposition.

norris Richards
11/30/2011

The media has been relentless in keeping up the pressure on the shameless spending of the JDIP funds. However the media made the story about corruption, although no corruption has been proven. This unrelenting attack by the media had caused Mike Henry to resign, Jamaicans must be relief that there is still a politicians in Jamaica that has class, shame and had the believe that the buck stop on his desk.
I shed no tears to see him go, hope this is the start of a new era in Jamaica, when politicians cannot be incompetent , act reckless with the taxpayer’s money, lied, and get kick back from business and expect to keep their jobs. I think others who have been around involved in any kind of shenanigans should do the right thing and resign. Only time will tell, if the media have now found their bearing or it is just a flash in the pan, because it is JLP looking bad.

Adam Godson
11/30/2011

@lorenzo bronx you can watch all you like,but it is up to the newspaper to print our comments.
If you don't see comments from 'labourite' bloggers, don't get the impression that comments were not left. Understand that it is up to the moderator to display the comments.
I look forward to having my comments shown

Norman Lee
11/30/2011

The cabinet or Hales can’t claim ignorance!
Andrew has moved to rectify the fiasco before he calls election. He has taken the baton and finally coaxed Mike-the-heavyweight to the back bench.
Bruce was no stranger to Auditor General’s reports. When he was construction minister in 1987 the report cited mismanagement, even though Eddie the “wizard” was PM and Minister of Finance. So, it seems contract problems, even with a separate finance minister, are the Achilles heel of the JLP!

Norman Lee
11/30/2011

Under the doctrine of collective responsibility espoused by Bruce, as he tried to wiggle his way out of the morass of the Dudus affair, he chastised the former PNP government for allowing Phillips to be a one man band that produced the memoranda that resulted in the “violation of the constitutional rights” of a citizen. Yet, Henry was allowed to become an orchestra, to “run with”, compose and play his own symphony with $40 billion of borrowed money that the country can ill- afford!

James Bond
11/30/2011

Can anyone recall the name JAG Smith? The MP that stole the Farm Workers money. Did he went to prison and what party was he affiliated with?
Question to O oK , it is fair comment to suggest if a person supports a group involved in criminality then such person is deemed to be a criminal

Anita Clarke
11/30/2011

I am not a JLP/PNP supporter, I am a Jamaican citizen, when I get my pay slip at the end of the month and see how much tax I have to pay out of the meager pay, eye water come to my eyes and to see these politician handle poor people money in such disregard it appalling. These politicians need to be tried and send to prison for these type of mismanagement. Yet still they put a man behind bars for picking 3 dozen ackee because he was hungry. SHAME!

Tom Stroke
11/30/2011

Very sad that you resign Mr Henry, for I believe that what you did to revive the dead railway system is nothing short of a miracle. However, like other good people who show good intentions to move Jamaica forward, you now appear to be a casualty of the vicious politics that we practice. For the people making the most noise today, I cannot point to one substantial thing they have done, I guess if you make more noise and do less work you can survive in Jamaica's politics.

joyce bennett
11/30/2011

Who's going to resign over the Trifigura affair.

J A M
11/30/2011

Barefaced corruption of the highest order and attempts to cover up despite the revelations. No respect to the tax paying people of this country.

Concerned Jamaican Citizen
11/30/2011

Just the reason he gave 4 his resignation speaks 2 this man's arrogance.. Look @ him...he doesn't have a care in the world abt the 164 million waste (office refurbishment + office furniture). if he could spend 60mil fixing house cuz he doesnt want 2 live in squalor this is not surrpising. I agree whole heartedly with all the comments so far. Normally comments on this website are very biased but I c that everybody has joined in 2 condemn this blatant act of corruption. Jamaica First I say!!!

Peter Sparks
11/30/2011

Hmmmm. tek' money fi buy pretty furniture RATHER than fix the Palisadoes causeway? - Hmmmm! We can see the order of importance here. I bet you anything that he was fired as opposedot "resigned!"....

Ilove Jamaica
11/30/2011

IORENZO BRONX, why would the JLP blogs interest you? Isn't there corruption in every party? RED ANTS, yes it is change, at least Prime Minister Holness has acted and is trrying to weed his out. You all bring politics into everything. These are just corrupt people who happen to be affiliated with a particular party....shifting blame and pointing fingers will not do for our beloved country. We all need to clean our own house!!

justice justice
11/30/2011

All "corrupt / those involve in mismanagement" politicians must be imprisoned & their assets sold to recover lost. If this law is pass they would behave better.

Ricardo Hall
11/30/2011

It is full time the peopleof Jamaica stop using party colors to protect poliyican. When they use the borrowed monies and watse it we should call for their head and prison term. If we were to do the same thibng in any job , we wiould have been put in jail long time. People nuh tek nuh side thief a theif and these politican are allow to thief because we are protected by party colors.

Authnel Reid
11/30/2011

AUDIT JAMAICA CUSTOM DEPARTMENT AUDITOR GENERAL. NEW MANAGERS WILL BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG OF DIRT, CORRUPTION AND SLACKNESS.

Ricardo Hall
11/30/2011

People it is time to vote fr the third party as these two parties are full for dishonest people.

Authnel Reid
11/30/2011

MADAM AUDITOR GENERAL, PLEASE CARRY- OUT AN AUDIT AT JAMAICA CUSTOM. THE FEAR OF LOOSING ONES JOB CAUSE CUSTOM OFFICERS TO KEEP SILENT TO THE BLATANT ACTS OF CORRUPTION AND VIOLATION OF CUSTOMS LAWS BY SOME SENIOR OFFICIALS AT CUSTOMS SOME WHO HAVE SINCE LEFT THE DEPARTMENT.

Yard Vibz
11/30/2011

Suh wah dem seh, Andrew ah walk wi sledgehammer? Well if such is the case, he has to convince us that the demolition of a giant had stemmed from spontaneous impulses, & not from duress, orchestrated by the hard-nosed Peter Phillips.... With this new development, one wonders if the PM will try to harvest his crop next month as promised... Words in the streets are that Sista P has been in a joyous mood lately & when quizzed about her newly acquired demeanor, she bellowed, "don't pull mi tongue!"

joyce bennett
11/30/2011

Now its the PNP time, lets see how many people resign over the Trifigura affair.

joyce bennett
11/30/2011

thats very sad to hear that a hard working man like Mr. Henry would sign, i am sure they will find out that he has nothing to hide. Now that is over we can now look forward to the Trifigura affair, i wonder if anyone resign over that.

Devon T
11/30/2011

About time Mr Henry, You should have quit while you were ahead... You were good at what you do but you have messed up. I would like to say to Nadine (my dear Comrade friend) Your party asked for Bruce, they got him, they ask for Mike, They got him... could you now please ask PP, OD, PSM, KD, Abe, and all the other prehistoric has been to make their way to their respective Retirement facility.

K W
11/30/2011

This is so funny. Saturday i was talking to my fren n i told him that Mike Henry is going to resign or should i say they r going to fire Mike Henry and here we see it happening. I should win a medal 4 this. I called it. U have to remember there is a election coming up n the PM cant afford to have ppl that the world knw is wasting money on foolishness stay n continue wasting more money. They fired the NWA director so naturally Mike Henry had to go. Its 4 the greater gd, has they would all say lol

James Bond
11/30/2011

Don't worry its Oo K.....DWL.........after the General Elections it will be K Oo.

Brad Thompson
11/30/2011

I do believe charges should be filed against all the major players involve. There we go again assigning an independent consulting firm; this is waste of tax payer’s money. You want to tell me the ministry that is responsible for infrastructure development cannot handle this project. We need to waste more money to some consulting firm. As usual tax payers get shafted. Government doesn’t get it we are tired of losing our money to corruption then you ask us to pay taxes no wonder public refuses at times.

bobette lauriston
11/30/2011

oh how the mighty has fallen; mike henry please dont go up for MP in central clarendon, please go into retirement. the next mighty of the jlp is man a yard. you see these guys have ego as big as china, no pun here. audley and mike don't have a clue about management, just like most of the jlp ministers. they are totally inept and they are not humble. they say empty barrels make the most noise

Adam Godson
11/30/2011

(cont'd) were exposed,didn't they have the brains to know that their practices would also have been discovered,and they damage that would have been done?
This whole debacle at best shows irres[onsibility,ignorance and mismanagement,and at worst, downright corruption.
It is as if some element is out to sabotage the party.
Shame on you government to have allowed,or claim to have not known of this sordid affair.

Al Vanawic
11/30/2011

Mr. Henry for the length of time you are in politics I wish you had resigned long ago so that people don't remember you with NWA scandal. IT is a lesson for others.There are many others who should follow you. Jamaica will not be better unless we remove all corrupt politicians from both party.

Adam Godson
11/30/2011

Its about time.
The corruption and slackness associated with the 18 years of the previous administration has tainted the present government,and is very painful.
the morally superior position that the JLP enjoyed over the pnp is rapidly eroding,much to the pleasure of the pnp disciples.
What was going through the minds of these officials responsible for this scandalous episode?
Did they not know better,or did they not care?
The same way that furniture scandal,shell waiver scandal,trafigura

lorenzo Bronx
11/30/2011

WHERE IS 876, VOICE OF REASON AND ALL THOSE LABOURITE BLOGGER, I AM WATCHING TO SEE YOUR BLOG.

Luv Quest
11/30/2011

Jamaica belongs to Jamaicans not politicians and diehards. This is the people’s business and we want justice and transparency. The JLP is cleaning house of corruption while the PNP is covering up and maintaining corruption within its ranks. They are dodging accountability in terms of Trafigura a stink that will follow them into the next election. Diehards should condemn corruption on both sides like Chuck E instead of being hypocrites having an ORANGE field day.

Jus Irie
11/30/2011

Appropriate action from Mr. Henry. He failed in his stewardship of the country's resources and this is untenable considering his party's criticism's of the previous government.
Meanwhile, Clovis is already in full campaign mood. I have never seen a cartoonist so arrogant and bereft of integrity and respect for people's intelligence. Discerning readers regardless of political allegiance should be appalled at this buffonery. Obviously, a fool with artistic ability is still a fool.

george watson
11/30/2011

Normally I would lay the blame on the government, based on collective responsibility but my impression of Mr. Henry is that he will do what Mr. Henry will do, without any regard for anybody else. The P.M. should give thanks for the turn of events, because in case of him winning the elections, Mr. Henry is one of the people he just could not control.
It is my belief that the J.L.P is just as happy to see the back of Mr. Henry as anybody else although they will tell you otherwise.
I think the country is better off without his haughtiness and egotism. To think that he was one of the persons seeking to be P.M. His conceit knows no bounds

Eagle Eyes
11/30/2011

There are so many people in Parliament, who should be IN, or looking at going to PRISON in the near future. Short of this, GORDON HOUSE should be CLOSED and GOVERNMENTAL BUSINESSES discussed and authorized WHERE EVER these members conjure up their next GOVERNMENTAL/TAXPAYERS RIPOFF. Call in the POLICE? Can we get the FBI, SCOTLAND YARD and other foreign CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS to assist us? Dem ya pple fi dey a PRISON.

0o k
11/30/2011

Comrades got the scalp they desired and you Mr. Henry offered your head to their cause. You were sailing on thin ice and failed to rein in the NWA, especially when it was clear Sum Ting Wong at Mr. Wong Shop!

Stephen Fox
11/30/2011

This is why we need separation of legislation from administration. An independent consultant is independent in name only. All legislators and the public should watch the administrators. The administrators as public employes should be required by law to be transparent and keep detailed accounts such that they may be audited. This current system is broken and the constitution needs to be reformed.

PL BOGLE
11/30/2011

"This is a demonstration of the new standard of governance being preached by the prime minister".
This is a disgrace, you people have no shame, no remorse.
The money belongs to the Jamaica people!!!!!!!!
The entire Government should resign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brooklyn Jamaican
11/30/2011

... and the Observer prefaces this with a silly cartoon lambasting the PNP as usual???

Mike Williams
11/30/2011

You see me dear trial how comes. I could sworn that I heard the goodly gentlemen mention that JDIP is the most transparent project to ever undertaken in Jamaica. How come this, how come. I remember the goodly minister mention that he would and I quote " We will ginnal dem with honesty" I did a little google search and type (Mike Henry JDIP Transparency) there it was on the JIS website. http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/114-transport-works/27553-works-minister-says-jdip-is-the-most-transparent-pr

Dave Smith
11/30/2011

Mike Henry has been acting like GOD since 2007, "How the mighty has fallen"

RED ANTS
11/30/2011

Was this the change the JLP told us about transparency to new governance,corruption on top of corruption.Where are the bell ringing bloggers who referred to me as orange ants? you all consoling each other Dwl.more head is going to rolled i can tell that much,the buck does not stop with resignation.call the police.

RED ANTS
11/30/2011

I heard Mike saying the PNP was panicking but i think AH is the man panicking right now.This is a very case,more serious than the man who was sent to prison for stealing 45 pods of Ackee.I calling on the entire cabinet to resign,i am calling on police action.The entire cabinet left the door open for this magnitude of corruption by not protecting we the taxpayers in these very hard times.AH as leader of gov't business then,Audley Shaw as FM now, the country need to hear from you.

Nadine Johnson
11/30/2011

Congratulation PNP you expose them and now a Giant in the JLP has Resign. lets see if Charges is being laid against him, he must evacuate the 60mil house today also.. All these MPs in the JLP who rape the Jamaicans tax payers Purse. Call in the police call in the fraud squad DPP get busy not only kern must be Charged Mr Henry also. No Praises to the PM he shield Mr Henry when he was leader of the Gov business, if only they had take a look when the OPP was asking. Lock Him Up.

fall mouth
11/30/2011

As Mr. Wong did before him, Mr. Henry should apologize to the nation instead of trying to defend his actions by saying he has nothing to hide.
And if as the source said that his demiting office is a demonstration of new standards by the P.M., then the party should re-think its decision to field him as a candidate in the upcoming elections. They are strong enough in this constituency to stave off the PNP without him as their candidate.
The party should also get rid of him as chairman.

wanda woeman
11/30/2011

“This is a demonstration of the new standard of governance being preached by the prime minister — that is, taking responsibility and adhering to the principle of transparency,” the source added.
This is foolishness. Anywhere else but Jamaica and this man would be looking at possible jail time.
The above remarks attributed to the P.M. is also suggesting that he was fired, but the story also said that he left of his own free will and was not pushed to resign. It has to be one or the other.

ghost rider
11/30/2011

"Henry was not pushed to resign." Yes, and I have a bridge to sell you. This man should now be investigated criminally with a view of criminal charges laid against him.
He should also evacuate the government house he is occupying with immediate effect.

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