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News
OCG says Gov't has complied, in part
— with request for documents in Sandals Whitehouse talks
Saturday, January 08, 2011
THE Office of the Contractor General (OCG) says that the Government has formally complied, in part, with a requisition to provide information and documentation on negotiations for the sale of Sandals Whitehouse to the Sandals hotel chain.
The announcement came yesterday hours after the OCG accused the Government of failing to comply with the requisition.
"The formal requisition, which was directed by the OCG to Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Douglas Saunders on December 13, 2010 and copied to... Prime Minister... Bruce Golding, should have been complied with by the close of business on Wednesday, December 29, 2010.
"However, by way of a letter that was dated December 28, and received by the OCG on December 29, Ambassador Saunders requested an extension of time to Thursday, January 6, 2011. The extension was granted in writing by the OCG immediately upon its receipt of the cabinet secretary's letter. Notwithstanding, as at the time of this media release, the Government has not lived up to its undertaking nor has it contacted the OCG," the OCG said in a press release issued minutes after 10 yesterday morning.
However, in its follow-up release, the OCG said that a "cursory review of the documentation" revealed that "critical elements" of its requisition "have not been satisfied".
"The cursory review also makes it clear that negotiations for the sale of the Government's interest in the Sandals Whitehouse hotel property, to "Sandals" or to "Gorstew Limited", are, in point of fact, already extremely far advanced and that the referenced discussions and negotiations are being undertaken pursuant, inter alia, to a formal Cabinet Decision, #15/10, which was dated April 19, 2010," the OCG stated.
The OCG said that a "high-level team has already commenced the process of evaluating the documentation". In addition, it said it will launch "a formal special investigation into the matter and table, as a matter of urgency, an interim special report to the Parliament".
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1/8/2011
Was the sale of this Property advertised,or was it done in the Typical Jamaican Govt/Poltical style...which is a few favoured individuals know about these things long before anyone else....the Americans have a name for this behaviour..".Inside Trading"..?????
1/8/2011
I hope we get value for our money. Mr. Christie will once again ensure that. Only this time he is not dragging but full speed ahead.
1/8/2011
Looking forward to seeing the Observer's "objective" covering of this story.....miracles do happen
1/8/2011
All eyes will be on this one, but does anyone care? How much will/is the property sold for? How many acres? Why is/was the property sold to the present owners?
We are looking keenly at this one OBSERVER.
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