KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Central Executive of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it is of the view that the auditor general’s report on Petrojam and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ)  be placed before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament as soon as is practically possible.

According to a statement from the JLP following a meeting of the executive today, “The Central Executive affirmed that maintenance of public trust in public institutions is crucial to the proper functioning of our democracy and reaffirmed its position that instances of misuse of public funds and nepotism should not go unsanctioned”.

The ruling party’s response comes after Opposition Member of Parliament Peter Bunting yesterday accused the Government of taking a “hypocritical approach” in its “deliberate attempts” to prevent the PAC from examining the findings of the PetroJam audit report. Read more

See the JLP’s statement in full:

The Central Executive of the Jamaica Labour Party at its meeting on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at its Belmont Road Headquarters considered the matter of the Auditor General’s report on Petrojam. After discussions the Central Executive concluded on the following:

• The Central Executive welcomed the report of the Auditor General into Petrojam that covers the period 2013 – 2018.

• The Central Executive was unanimous in the view that the Auditor General’s report be placed before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament as soon as is practically possible.

• The Central Executive affirmed that maintenance of public trust in public institutions is crucial to the proper functioning of our democracy and reaffirmed its position that instances of misuse of public funds and nepotism should not go unsanctioned.

The Central Executive supports the actions taken by the Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and Prime Minister Andrew Holness in this matter and looks forward to his announcement on further action to be taken.