KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says that in light of revelations of misuse of public funds and breaches of government procurement guidelines at yesterday’s meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of House of Representatives, Prime Minister Andrew Holness must “immediately address these serious and profound issues of poor accountability and probity within the government.”

In a statement this afternoon, the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Peter Phillips, said that the prime minister must urgently call for a forensic audit of the payments made by the National Security Ministry under the $426.9 million contract with a motor vehicle sales company and account to the country for the $213 million which was reported to have already been paid as deposit to the company for the provision of 200 used vehicles for the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The Opposition leader is also seeking the intervention of the Contractor General and the Auditor General in light of what he said appears to be “clear breaches of the government procurement guidelines, the repeated failure of the Minister of National Security to answer questions put to him in Parliament, and his gross dereliction of his duties as a minister.”

He said this has led to failed policies which are causing the police to face an increase in violent crime and murder without adequate resources to address it.

Dr Phillips said the prime minister should immediately relieve the National Security Minister Robert Montague of his duties, if the country is to have any confidence in the government’s determination and ability to fight crime.

“The country has now paid out $213 million to a contractor and yet has only 30 used Toyota Axio cars, which do not meet JCF specifications, to show for it. Where has the money gone?” Dr Phillips queried.