'No political will' - Christie says OCG needs more power to fight corruption

The head of the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) on Thursday highlighted what he said was the failure of the State to entrench the OCG in the Constitution of Jamaica to protect it from political interference.

Christie was making a presentation to more than 600 members of the Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora at the Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture in New York.

The OCG head was invited to deliver the seventh annual lecture in the Caribbean International Network Lecture Series in New York last night.

In his 90-minute presentation, Christie also lamented the failure to give the OCG the power to halt a government contracting process which showed signs of corruption or irregularity.

Double standard

The no-nonsense Christie also pointed to what he said was the administration's double standard on the issue of state asset divestments, attempts at intimidation and politicisation of the OCG, and the lack of prosecution in matters referred to the director of public prosecutions.

The Caribbean International Network Lecture Series was sponsored by The Gleaner Com-pany, Richmond Development, Walkerswood, Jampact and Golden Krust.