KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican Government has rescinded the licence granted to Energy World International (EWI) to construct the 381-megawatt power plant, usually reliable Jamaica Observer sources said today.

The decision taken by Cabinet is expected to be announced today when Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell makes a statement to parliament shortly.

The sources did not obtain information on the fate of the embattled minister who has been at the centre of a firestorm of criticism over his handling of the EWI bid by activist groups and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness.

Paulwell is expected to announce a new committee headed by Dr Vin Lawrence, the veteran but controversial negotiator, supported by Professor Gordon Shirley and Alston Stewart, to oversee the project, the sources said.

Asked for a comment on the reports that the EWI licence has been revoked, Opposition spokesman on energy, Karl Samuda said he was reluctant to speak before the energy minister’s statement to parliament.

But Samuda insisted that the Opposition would find it difficult to support any new arrangements if it meant the price of electricity to consumers would be above 12.88 cents, the figure offered by EWI.

“Additionally, we would not be happy with the appointment of persons who were previously close to the Jamaica Public Service Company to determine who would now be involved in the new arrangements,” Samuda said.

He would not be pressed to elaborate or call names but Shirley and Stewart are known to have worked for the light and power company.