Ed Bartlett is today expected to move a resolution in Parliament renewing his demand for a forensic audit of Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) offices worldwide. He also wants the tourism minister to table in the House, the full report of a just-concluded internal audit of the agency’s New York office.

Bartlett, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman on tourism, will also ask the minister, Aloun Assamba, to tell the House the advertising budget for the winter tourist season which opens on December 15.

The House of Representatives will today have its first full business session since last month’s general elections in which the JLP increased its seat count from 12 to 26. The governing People’s National Party won 34.

The increased seat count has injected new life into the Opposition, who have promised to vigorously keep the Government on its toes.

Tourism, being the island’s largest earner of foreign exchange, is one of the sectors on which the Opposition is expected to badger the Government. And the recent audit of the JTB’s New York office that has already resulted in two resignations and a sacking, has given the JLP more ammunition.

The audit was ordered by former Tourism Minister Portia Simpson-Miller in August after a widely-circulated unsigned e-mail made allegations of financial and professional misconduct against three senior staff members in the New York office.

During the probe, Noel Mignott, the deputy director of tourism for the Americas, and Yvonne Sawyers, the accountant/administrator, resigned, while Marie Deeble-Walker, the advertising relations manager was fired.

The investigation, conducted by the JTB’s internal auditor, Colin Greenland, uncovered instances of improper business practices and said it could account for only US$6.8 million of the US$13 million allotted to the JTB for Operation Grow.

Operation Grow was the tourism industry’s response to adverse publicity Jamaica received after the outbreak of gun violence in West Kingston and subsequent roadblocks, mainly in the Corporate Area, in July 2001.

Bartlett, in his resolution, says he wants the forensic audit to make specific reference to Operation Grow. He also wants the full report of the forensic audit tabled in the House.

In addition to asking the minister to disclose the JTB’s advertising budget for the winter season, Bartlett also wants to know:

. if the minister is aware that projections for this winter season are the most challenging in the past 30 years:

. if she can confirm that a New York advertising agency is providing the JTB with a line of credit for the advertising campaign because the JTB is strapped for cash;

. if the answer is yes, can the minister state whether the firm is Foote, Cone & Belding and, if so, what are the terms of the line of credit and the value of the line;

. will the minister state what strategic plans are in place by the Government to adequately market Jamaica and rescue this winter season; and

. is she aware that the winter season begins on December 15.