Family man: J.C. Hutchinson hit by second nepotism claim in two years
Published:Thursday | October 20, 2022 | 12:10 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Parliamentary Reporter
Prime Minister Andrew Holness and House Speaker Marisa Dalrymple Philibert have been urged to “sanction” William 'J.C.' Hutchinson, a member of the executive, for actions adjudged to constitute a conflict of interest and for being cited for nepotism by Jamaica's anti-corruption body.
The Integrity Commission released a damning report Wednesday detailing the actions of Hutchinson that led to adverse conclusions about the senior government lawmaker's influence in his son, Jason's, company benefiting from the award of state contracts.
It was the second chastening of J.C. Hutchinson in two years after he was demoted by the prime minister after being embroiled in the Holland Estate scandal that also involved his son and live-in partner.
Kevon Stephenson, director of investigations at the Integrity Commission, reported that the government lawmaker “directly and or ostensibly authorised” Claudette Baker-Archer, coordinator of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), to recommend Prostar Electrical and Construction, a private entity owned by his son Jason, for the award of contracts by the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation for the supply of electrical material and supplies.
The chief investigator at the commission concluded that the MP, directly or ostensibly, authorised Baker-Archer to sign correspondence on his behalf requesting payment on behalf of Prostar Electrical and Construction in relation to electrical material and/or services supplied by the referenced entity at the Lacovia Community Centre.
Further, Stephenson concluded that William Hutchinson's recommendation of Prostar Electrical and Construction for the award of contracts amounted to an actual conflict of interest.
MP Hutchinson, when contacted by The Gleaner for comment Wednesday afternoon, said that he was unable to respond as he had not yet seen the report.
Stephenson launched a probe into allegations of nepotism, impropriety, and irregularity on January 26, 2021.
The probe also looked into recommendations made to the National Council on Education for the appointment of individuals to school boards by Hutchinson.
In his report to Parliament, Stephenson described Hutchinson's conduct as “appalling”, noting that his actions may have damaged public confidence in Jamaica's governance arrangements.
The director of investigations recommended that Holness and Dalrymple Philibert “implement such sanctions which are both commensurate with the seriousness of his conduct and inspire public confidence in government”.
Stephenson said that given the prevalence of conflicts of interest in Jamaica, the prime minister should commission a general review of the issue and the introduction of legislation and/or regulations to clarify how these should be managed.
In conducting his probe, the director of investigations established that Jason Hutchinson, son of the lawmaker, and Lola Marshall-Williams, is the proprietor of the entity known as Prostar Electrical and Construction. The director also established that all three parties resided at the same location in St Elizabeth.
Stephenson also pointed out that Marshall-Williams was the intimate partner of the St Elizabeth North West MP who has known her for more than 32 years.
Previously, Hutchinson, the MP, told the Integrity Commission that he had never recommended the referenced entity to the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation for the award of a government contract.
He said that he was also unaware of any contract awarded by the corporation to the entity for electrical installation work at the Lacovia Training Centre, the Lacovia Community Centre, and/or the Lacovia playing field.
The MP was also asked if he had any affiliation and/or association with any individual or entity on whose behalf he facilitated a recommendation to the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation for the award of a contract between January 2016 and January 2021.
In his response, Hutchinson said in the report: “I am not affiliated or associated in any way with any individual or entity on whose behalf I facilitated a recommendation to the Municipal Corporation for the award of a government contract.”
Asked whether Prostar Electrical and Construction had ever been awarded a contract by the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation between January 2016 and May 2021, Jason Hutchinson responded to the Integrity Commission in the negative.
The commission made an unannounced visit to the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation on January 7, 2021.
Diana Stephens-Sutherland, director of finance at the corporation, provided a statement showing original documents, including vouchers, invoices, copy cheques, and cheque stubs, for payments made by the corporation to Prostar Electrical & Construction.
The payments were made for projects undertaken at the Lacovia Training Centre, the Lacovia Community Centre, and the Lacovia playing field between 2017 and 2019.
Meanwhile, the director of investigations reported that Marshall-Williams was appointed to the board of directors of five schools within the constituency of St Elizabeth North Western on at least 11 occasions between 2008 and 2021. This, Stephenson said, resulted in a conflict of interest in light of her relationship with MP Hutchinson.
The commission found that Marshall-Williams had served on the board of directors for five schools within the constituency of St Elizabeth North Western.
A senior official at the National Council on Education told the commission that “for the four periods in which Marshall-Williams was appointed on the board of directors of Maggotty High School, J.C. Hutchinson, MP for the St Elizabeth North West constituency, recommended her to serve ...”.