KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Integrity Commission (IC) has found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton following a three-year probe into Market Me Consulting Limited, the company behind ‘Jamaica Moves’ and which found itself in the middle of a scandal in 2020.

However, the IC has concluded in its investigation report that was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday, that neither Tufton nor Lyndsey McDonnough, co-managing director at the company, disclosed their “friendship” before Market Me Consulting was awarded nearly $80 million in contracts by the Ministry of Health and Wellness which Tufton has headed since March 2016.

The IC had launched its probe into allegations of procurement irregularities and conflicts of interest surrounding the award of contracts between 2016 and 2021. It found that 15 contracts valued at $78.5 million were awarded to Market Me during the five-year period, 14 by the health and wellness ministry and one by the National Family Planning Board.

Market Me Consulting Limited logo

Market Me was the company behind Jamaica Moves, an initiative of the ministry that encouraged Jamaicans to engage in physical activities as a way to stave off or manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

While the probe was triggered by a $15.8 million contract to Market Me to implement the Jamaica Moves programme, the IC’s Director of Investigation, Kevon Stephenson said he found no evidence that Tufton was directly involved in that contract.

However, the minister was called out for not disclosing his relationship with McDonnough, having been the one to introduce Market Me to the ministry.

“Neither Dr Tufton nor McDonnough made formal declarations of conflict as required under the rules governing conflict of interest and broader governance best practice. Whilst others may have known of the connection between the parties, they both had a responsibility to have made formal declarations of conflict at the appropriate times and recuse themselves from any involvement which could be deemed or perceived to be a conflict of interest,” said Stephenson.

According to the report, Tufton “appeared to have advanced a private interest which resulted in a monetary benefit to Market Me Consulting Limited”. It said his introduction of the company and its principals to ministry officials “gave rise to, at its lowest, a perceived conflict of interest and thereby contravened the principles of transparency and good governance.”

The matter was not referred to the IC’s director of corruption prosecution even though breaches and governance failures were identified in the issuing of the contracts because of “evidentiary gaps”.

It has instead recommended that the matter be referred to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for attention, given the conflict-of-interest concerns.

Stephenson also recommended that the ministry strengthens its procurement systems, end the improper use of direct contracting, and ensure that all officials strictly adhere to public procurement and integrity laws.