Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
OPPOSITION SENATOR, Shirley Williams is insisting on transparency and the involvement of Parliament in the divestment of government resources in Information Technology (IT).
According to Senator Williams, the number of persons employed in the IT sector does not justify the volume of government expenditure in that industry.
She was making her contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday.
Citing Netserv, which she said, came to Jamaica to establish a call centre at a cost of US $19.62 million, Senator Williams said the entity was loaned $199 million by state agencies in 2002.
However, the company has since been placed in receivership and its assets sold to Touch Point Centre International Jamaica Limited for $240 million with a deposit of $27 million. The balance is payable over seven years at an interest rate of 4.25 per cent.
Senator Williams said, to compound the issue, the Springfield Technology Park (formerly the Goodyear Factory) which was refurbished to an informatics centre in September 2002 at a reported cost of $153 million remains closed to date.
"The Government cannot continue to waste value tax payers resources by making bad investments decisions," said Senator Williams.
"Not only does the Government owe the country full disclosure and explanation, but also equally important is the need to have a transparent divestment process."
HUMAN RESOURCE CENTRE
Meanwhile, Senator Williams is recommending the establishment of a human resource centre in each parish for persons to document their qualifications and job aspirations.
According to her, this centre should also provide access to business and employment opportunities.
The Opposition Senator also charged that Jamaica was not capitalising on existing foreign direct investments, adding that the government must move swiftly to undertake the initiatives to enable the linkages between foreign investment and the domestic environment through training, technology and improved support services.
She has also called for the revamping of the National Investment Policy, established in 1996, which she said has failed.
