Dr Vincent Lawrence yesterday made it clear that his resignation as treasurer of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) has nullified his membership of the party’s National Executive Committee, and declared that his years of public service could withstand any test.

“My membership on the National Executive Committee (NEC) was consequent on my appointment as treasurer,” Lawrence said in a statement. “Having resigned as treasurer, I am no longer a member of the NEC. Let me once again reiterate my confidence that the integrity and sincerity with which I have served will withstand any scrutiny.”

Lawrence issued the statement a day after the Daily Observer on Friday informed the country that he had resigned his job as PNP treasurer.

At the time, PNP general-secretary Colin Campbell could not say whether Lawrence’s resignation had affected his NEC membership. The NEC is the PNP’s highest decision-making body outside of the party’s annual conference.

Two weeks ago, Lawrence, reputed to be the most powerful non-elected public official across several PNP administrations, tendered his resignation as chairman of the influential Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and all other state boards which he headed.

At the time, Lawrence said he was stepping down because the contractor-general’s report on the controversial Sandals Whitehouse Hotel project had “created a new environment” for him to act on a decision made months before to resign his public posts.

The UDC was the major partner in the south coast hotel construction which is at the centre of a US$41-million cost overrun scandal that erupted following complaints from another partner, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s Gorstew, that the developers failed to deliver the property completed and fully functioning when the hotel opened in February last year.

Following is the full text of Lawrence’s statement:

“On Monday, July 31, 2006 I handed the president of the People’s National Party my resignation as the treasurer of the party. This was in keeping with a decision I had taken, as early as September 2005, to retire from all public and party offices. This decision was arrived at after careful consideration and the fullest discussions with my family.

“I had served my country and my party for over three decades and my personal affairs now required my complete focus and attention. The decision to retire in September was communicated to the then prime minister who requested that I stay on until May 20, 2006 when the life of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) board would end. I acceded to his request.

“In May 2006, the new prime minister asked me to stay on as chairman until August 2006. Again I acceded to the request. As I have indicated previously, the publication of the contractor-general’s report on the Sandals Whitehouse project, which alleged impropriety on the part of the UDC, required a specific response from me as chairman. This response was two-fold.

“First, along with my colleague directors of the UDC, I issued a comprehensive statement which provided information on all aspects of the project. Secondly, I reconsidered the extension of my appointment as chairman. My decision not to continue provided the opportunity to give effect to the decision I had taken in September 2005 to retire.

“Accordingly, on July 24, 2006 I tendered my resignation to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, from all public sector boards with immediate effect.

A week later, on Monday, July 31, 2006 I sought and obtained an appointment with the president of the People’s National Party, comrade Portia Simpson Miller, at which time I handed her my letter of resignation as the treasurer of the party. My membership on the National Executive Committee (NEC) was consequent on my appointment as treasurer. Having resigned as treasurer, I am no longer a member of the NEC.

“However, as I indicated in my letter of resignation, I remain a committed member of the party that I have always served loyally and to the best of my ability. I also gave the party leader assurances of my continued support “within the constraints of time and of my now full-time engineering and management consultancy activities”.

“In light of these facts, there can hardly be any need for speculation. Let me once again reiterate my confidence that the integrity and sincerity with which I have served will withstand any scrutiny.”