Wheatley says he did not approve sale of Caricel shares

Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley says he did not give approval for the sale of the controlling shares in local telecoms provider Caricel to a South African company.

Wheatley says the management of Caricel had written to him last year indicating an intention to sell its shares to the company.

However, he says the matter was referred to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) for it to conduct a fit and proper assessment of the firm.

The Technology Minister says he is yet to get the results of the OUR's assessment.

Based on Jamaica's Telecommunications Act, Caricel is required to submit an application to the technology minister for approval prior to the sale of its shares.

Contractor General Dirk Harrison says the sale of Caricel's shares to the South African entity is a cause for concern.

Harrison has questioned whether the South African entity has complied with all the obligations and the requirements imposed by Cabinet in 2016.

The fresh controversy over the operations of Caricel has emerged nearly a month after the telecoms, which provides mobile data services, announced that its operations have been acquired by South Africa's Involution Limited under a sales agreement negotiated last October.