Lead Stories

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

Minister of state for Water and Housing, Everald Warmington dispatched a detailed letter late yesterday to Contractor General Greg Christie, rebuffing claims of impropriety as a government minister or parliamentarian.

The tone of Warmington's letter was in stark contrast to his fiery response late Monday after Christie released a voluminous statement implicating the politician in possible misconduct in relation to the award of government contracts.

Warmington had earlier released a statement withdrawing his characterisation of Christie as an "overzealous idiot", but firmly maintained he was innocent of the allegations that were levelled against him and in connection with government contracts to Strathairn Construction Company Limited.

The junior government minister dispatched a painstaking, seven-page letter to the contractor general, challenging each of the allegations and demanding proof of Christie's damning claims.

At the same time, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Bruce Golding administration have remained silent on the matter.

JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda told The Gleaner the party has reserved comment.

"This matter has legal and other implications. It is for this reason that, in the absence of more information, I don't wish to make any comment at this time," Samuda said.

Christie claimed on Monday that the decision of the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) to initiate a special investigation had been prompted by certain considerations which include the fact that the OCG received a sworn written statement.

Christie said the statement "was tape-recorded by theOCG and given under pain of criminal prosecution" in accordance with Section 29 of the Contractor General Act.

It alleges that the award of certain works contracts which were issued by the St Catherine Parish Council for performance in the St Catherine South Western constituency were influenced by Warmington.

The OCG alleges that a company in which Warmington was a director up to September 1, 2007 received the bulk of the contracts in the constituency.

"You have confirmed my resignation as a director of Strathairn effective September 2007," Warmington said in his response. "That date precedes my appointment as minister of state."

He contended that Christie has failed and/or refused to supply him with a copy of the sworn statement.

"In the absence of a full response to the matters raised, neither you nor the public can test the veracity of the allegations," argued Warmington, as he suggested Christie's work was incomplete and lacked information.

"Please provide full, further and better particulars of the details of the influence exerted by me as alleged by the written sworn statement, including the following: what was the nature of the influence referred to; what form did it take - oral or in writing; over whom was the influence exerted; what are the dates of these occurrences?"

Maintained stance

Warmington maintained his stance in the face of Christie's allegations that he was still actively in control of the company and, as such, Strathairn Construction Company Limited is "Mr Warmington's company".

"Please be advised that my resignation as a director of the company is not an allegation but a statement of fact provable by the provisions relating to appointment and resignation of directors of a company as provided by law," said Warmington.

"Notwithstanding the facts in your possession, you nevertheless go on to give prominence to and rely on a statement from an unnamed person to date that the company is Mr Warmington's company."

He added: "Further, to have elevated a statement that I was at the time 'in possession and control of the chequebook for Strathairn Construction Company Limited' is another indication of a baseless allegation elevated to finding of fact."

In response to Christie's claim that Warmington added the names of his sister and brother to the particulars of the company's documents after he resigned as a director, the MP responded: "Please point out if this act is illegal or immoral or is in breach of any rules or regulations on my part."

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com