By Vernon Daley,
Staff Reporter
Shaw
DEPUTY LEADER of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Audley Shaw, yesterday charged that overseas lending agencies were raising concerns about corruption in the awarding of international contracts in Jamaica.
Mr. Shaw, who was speaking at the 57th annual conference of the JLP, also repeated claims that his life was under threat because of his efforts to expose and root out corruption in the public sector.
He told the massive gathering of delegates at the National Arena that the international agencies, which lend money to the Government, were beginning to question whether "dirty money" had found its way in the implementation of certain contracts.
"They are concerned that international contracts, which are being awarded in Jamaica are being contaminated by drug money, blood money and money laundering," Mr. Shaw told JLP supporters.
Mr. Shaw, who is also the Opposition Spokesman on Finance, did not elaborate on charges, but cautioned that the reputation of the country could be sullied if the issue was not swiftly arrested.
"It is a serious thing which has serious consequences for Jamaica's reputation on the international level and the Minister of Finance is going to have to look into it," Mr. Shaw said.
The issue of corruption in the society has figured high on the public agenda over the last few weeks, with allegations that members of the police force have been involved in drug running.
Meanwhile, Mr. Shaw, who last year broke the issue of breaches in the payment of public sector wages, embarrassing the P.J. Patterson administration, said there were persons who did not want him to continue to highlight government corruption.
"I was at Parliament and a man call me on the phone to threaten my life... because I stand up for the poor people of this country," he said.
