KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government and O’Brien’s International Car Sales Limited are now locked in another layer of dispute over the delivery of used vehicles for the police, as the supplier has refused to voluntarily exit the contract, which has been under intense public scrutiny since late November when controversial details of the arrangement came to light.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Diane McIntosh explained at the on-going sitting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) a short while ago that coming out of negotiations with the contractor and the Solicitor General, the Government has now partially terminated the contract with O’Brien’s.

The government is now focused on the delivery of 62 vehicles, which are still on the wharf, with four having been delivered since the controversy over the vehicles erupted in November.

The National Security Ministry has also advised O’Brien’s to repay the $213 million that it has already deposited on the delivery of the original 200 vehicles.

Chief Procurement Officer in the ministry, Milton Morrison also disclosed that the Government agreed to pay an additional $42 million to O’Brien’s on the 66 vehicles, which are newer models than was previously agreed.

Committee members pointed out that this is some 38 per cent more on the $109 million that was originally agreed for this batch of vehicles. O’Brien’s previously delivered thirty vehicles in June.

Alphea Saunders