Tyrone Reid and Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writers
Stewart and Davies
AFTER A five-month sabbatical, Alston Stewart, former head of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), has returned to his post as head of the Omar Davies campaign for leadership.
It took a while for the smoke from the Solid Waste scandal to clear but the embattled Mr. Stewart is back as campaign manager for Finance Minister-prime minister contender Dr. Davies.
"I have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of at the agency," Mr. Stewart told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday, adding that the Auditor General and the Contractor General had absolved him from any criminal wrongdoing.
In March this year, The Sunday Gleaner revealed that the executive agency was rocked by allegations of corruption and mismanagement, which forced Local Government Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who is also a top contender in the PNP leadership race, to order a probe into the affairs of the Stewart-led agency.
DEFENDING INTEGRITY
After much public outcry, Mr. Stewart and his entire board resigned en bloc after an emergency meeting with Mrs. Simpson Miller in April. Despite the heat from various factions of society, Mr. Stewart defended his integrity and maintained his innocence. At a press conference, a livid Mr. Stewart went on to rant in defence of his integrity, charging his detractors to come forward with evidence or "shut their damn mouths".
Later investigations carried out by Contractor General Derrick McKoy painted a damning picture of mismanagement at the NSWMA, accusing the former boss and other officers of presiding over nearly $2 billion in contract breaches.
In the pointed report tabled in Parliament, the Contractor General said while he found no evidence to suggest that the Mr. Stewart-led board and management team had used their positions for personal gain, he was, however, disturbed by what he saw as clear violations of the rule of law.
But yesterday, Mr. Stewart said his heading of the Finance Minister's campaign team, would not jeopardise his chances of leading the People's National Party (PNP) and the country.
"Dr. Davies is the candidate. I am not the candidate," he stated.
The former Solid Waste boss left the Davies campaign trail post in May and was replaced by Imani Duncan. He resumed his role on October 1.
He unwaiveringly threw his support behind Dr. Davies as the best to replace Prime Minister P.J. Patterson when he resigns.
"Look at the consistency of his work as Finance Minister," Mr. Stewart stated. "Jamaica is now significantly recognised internationally as a reliable economy."
He also pointed to Dr. Davies' crafting of the public sector Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and even the recent attempt to save it when it came under pressure.
Meanwhile, Dr. Davies told The Sunday Gleaner that Mr. Stewart, who was forced to resign from the National Solid Waste Management Agency, along with the other board members, was not fired from his team, but went on a mutually-agreed hiatus.
"Alston Stewart has managed the 'Campaign for Prosperity' since its inception in December 2004. By mutual agreement, he stepped down in May until his name was cleared, given the allegations around NSWMA," read a statement from Dr. Davies.
QUARANTINE FOR STEWART
After the revelation, Bruce Golding, Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), insisted that Mr. Stewart be quarantined from the public's purse and resources. Mr. Golding stressed that allowing Mr. Stewart access to the public purse in any area of the public sector would be a slap in the face to the people of Jamaica. Mr. Golding also called for Mr. Stewart's removal from the upcoming construction of the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny.
While admitting that breaches were made under the Stewart-led Solid Waste leadership, Dr. Davies insists that Mr. Stewart was not found culpable of swindling from the public purse. "There were admitted instances when procurement rules were not adhered to. However, the reports of the Auditor General and Contractor General indicated that none of these actions was for personal gain."
