Thanks for standing up to Paulwell

Andrew Wheatley, Guest Columnist

I wish to publicly commend Contractor General Dirk Harrison for the bold and unequivocal position he has taken in resisting the attempt by embattled Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell to compromise the integrity of the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) by asking him to make contact with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and, in effect, alter his opinion that the minister acted inappropriately by meddling in the bidding process for the construction of the 381MW energy plant. That process saw a bid from Energy World International (EWI) being admitted after the deadline for submission had passed.

In a desperate attempt to salvage the sordid EWI affair following the IDB's withdrawal from the process because of procedural flaws that are inconsistent with IDB procurement procedures, Minister Paulwell, based on public disclosures by the contractor general last Saturday, inappropriately and ill-advisedly sought to bring influence to bear on the contractor general.

All well-thinking Jamaicans should join in decrying the actions of Minister Paulwell. This is especially important as we are living in a society where allegations of corruption are pervasive, and public cynicism, particularly against the nation's political leaders, is rampant. We must begin to send the right signals, and in so doing, demonstrate that corruption has no place in our society if we are to develop and prosper.

As opposition spokesman, I issued a statement last Friday decrying the minister's poor judgement and knack for overreaching in relation to the expedient manner in which he acted by reversing the Government's Aggregate Spectrum Cap Policy of 2013, ostensibly as payback for advance payments for licenses by the telecoms providers in helping the Government meet its primary surplus target for the fiscal year just ended.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGEMENT

Phillip Paulwell has demonstrated time and again that his judgement and discretion as minister are questionable and fall way short of that which is expected of the nation's political leaders. A compelling case may be made that Minister Paulwell has no qualms or reservations in flouting established rules, breaching protocol, and overreaching. He has an abiding penchant for expediency, and the Jamaican people should no longer entertain claims of youthful exuberance as an excuse for his errant conduct.

Enterprise Jamaica, which is at this time grappling with high indebtedness and low levels of growth, simply cannot afford Phillip Paulwell. His ministerial bungling across different People's National Party administrations over the years have been costing us too much as a country - both in terms of our reputation and public finances.

It is indeed regrettable that the leadership of the PNP, in a display of contempt for decent, law-abiding, and patriotic Jamaicans, has come out expressing support for the minister. The PNP must indicate whether it has the interest of the nation at heart or is simply bent on advancing its narrow partisan interests.

Dr Andrew Wheatley, MP, is opposition spokesman on ICT, digital society development, and the environment. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.