OCG orders audit of SCJ's books

 CONTRACTOR GENERAL Greg Christie has recommended an exhaustive audit into the financial affairs of the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) and the SCJ Holdings Limited.

The Office of the Contractor General (OCG), headed by Christie, on Monday asked the Auditor General's Department to carry out the probe.

His recommendation is contained in a special report of investigation conducted into allegations of improper procurement practices at the SCJ.

The OCG believes that such an exhaustive investigation is also required in light of the divestment of the remaining Government of Jamaica sugar assets.

"The OCG remains concerned that the unsolicited proposal mechanism is a corruption-enabling device which can be utilised by unscrupulous public officials to direct lucrative multi-million dollar State contracts to connected, undeserving or desired contractors." According to the OCG, this could be easily accomplished by influential, but corrupt, public officials. The OCG said these Government officials could conspire witha contractor to have the contractor approach the State with what appears to be a unique contracting proposal.