STUNG by recent criticisms about its handling of contracts, the Jamaica Labour Party – controlled (JLP) Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) yesterday approved the establishment of a procurement committee to ensure conformation to government procurement requirements.

After a short debate, the KSAC named six Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors and four People’s National Party (PNP) councillors to the committee.

Committee members are: Councillors Neville Whittaker (JLP), chairman; deputy mayor Lee Clarke (JLP); Vernon McLeod (JLP); Audley Gordon (JLP); Robert Williams (JLP) and Delroy Williams (JLP); Artnel Gordon (PNP); Andrew Swaby (PNP); Gareth Walker PNP; and Trevor Bernard (PNP).

Also sitting on the Committee will be administrative officers of the KSAC such as a procurement officer, the city engineer, the city treasurer and a town clerk nominee, Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie said.

Contractor-General Greg Christie, in a recent report, criticised how contracts were awarded at the KSAC, and complained that the city fathers were not following the government’s procurement procedures.

McKenzie said yesterday that Christie would be asked to assist in the structure and operation of the committee, as well as vetting its terms of reference.

The council meeting first proposed to have six JLP and three PNP members on the committee. But after a stiff challenge from the minority side, McKenzie went into caucus and afterwards recommended a fourth PNP member – Trevor Bernard – to the committee.

Councillor Paul Stewart, (PNP Hagley Park division) had argued for a 50-50 split in membership, with an independent chairman, insisting that “any decisions taken should not be seen as political”.

Councillor Linton Walker (PNP-Waterhouse division) felt that six to three was lopsided and not in the best interest of the capital city. However, McLeod pointed out that whatever decisions the procurement committee made would have to be considered by the town clerk who had the power to say “no”.

McKenzie assured the council that everything was being done “to ensure that all recommendations of the Office of the Contractor-General are met”.

He said that in keeping with the recommendations of the Contractor-General, 35 of the 40 KSAC councillors had attended a procurement workshop held on June 6, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

The mayor also announced that a sub-committee of the Finance Committee was also being set up to look at a proposal for the establishment of an audit committee. The first meeting would be held on Tuesday, June 20, he said.