OCG chides former ministry

THE ISLANDWIDE festivities to celebrate the nation's Olympic champions nearly two years ago were not carried out in a manner that would ensure accountability, transparency and impartiality, the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) has charged.

The OCG has also identified breaches of government procurement procedures in the award of contracts, estimated at nearly $57 million, in connection with the Olympic athletes homecoming week of celebrations.

"The OCG has been led to conclude that there has indeed been maladministration, an untidy state of affairs, and a lack of due care," the OCG wrote in a special report on its investigations into all contracts surrounding the festivities.

In the report, which was tabled in the Senate yesterday, the OCG criticised the public-private-sector partnership approach used by the former Ministry of Information, Community, Youth and Sports (MICYS).

The OCG said a copy of the report would be referred to the auditor general and the financial secretary to determine what action, if any, could be taken to hold personnel from the former MICYS accountable.

"The referral is being made on the basis that there is sufficient prima facie evidence which is contained herein," the OCG said.

The week of celebrations, October 3-10, 2008, to honour the exploits of Jamaica's athletes at the Beijing Olympic Games, spanned several parishes.