JMA angered by NWA's purchase of foreign furniture

THE LOCAL manufacturing sector is up in arms over a decision by the National Works Agency (NWA) to import five container loads of furniture worth more than $60 million for its offices.

"It is inconceivable how local furniture manufacturers could have been overlooked in the procurement process for a government project when buying Jamaican develops and grows industries and our economy," the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) said yesterday in a release.

According to the JMA, the $62 million expended to purchase furniture and equipment for the offices of the NWA "could have been used to benefit our micro small and medium enterprises and furniture sector instead of developing the manufacturing sector of other countries".

The sector group has requested that the NWA disclose details of its furniture acquisition. It is also calling for accountability in the selection and bidding process for government contracts.