Dear Editor,

In your May 1, 2012 publication, three people expressed their concern that the naming of a panel, comprising Danny Williams, Gordon Shirley and Everton McDonald, to give oversight to the implementation of three government projects, is an attempt to marginalise the Office of Contractor General.

Hugh Fagan, the convenor of CAPI, in a letter stated that “the action by Minister Davies is a dismissal of the role of the OCG as the statutory body empowered to oversee the award of government contracts”.

Betty Ann Blaine, in her column wrote that “the latest is the move by the PNP administration to seemingly usurp the office of the Contractor General”.

Ken Chaplin wrote that by the establishment of this panel “the government does not seem to appreciate the work which the OCG carried out in a thorough manner”.

I challenge any of the writers to refute the following:

* That the naming of the panel by the government is not in breach of the Contractor-General Act.

* That the naming of the panel does not prevent the contractor general from carrying out his responsibility.

* That only Parliament can amend the Contractor-General Act and that no amendment has been so undertaken by Parliament.

* That no one entity in Jamaica has the monopoly in ensuring that transparency, openness, and accountability are features of projects being implemented by the state.

* That the more institutions, panels or organisations we have ensuring that every dollar is well spent, the better for the country.

During the recently concluded election campaign, the prime minister promised that she would be doing everything possible to strengthen the government’s oversight against possible corrupt practices. The naming of this panel, consisting of people of unquestionable integrity, is a step in that direction.

The panel of people, rather than being wrongly perceived as “a dismissal of the role of the OCG” or as a usurpation of that office, should be seen as complementary. The gentlemen who have been appointed, like the contractor general, are all men of integrity and probity, who wish the best for Jamaica.

Delano Franklyn

delanofranklyn@gmail.com