Christie's ultimatum

• NWA to produce JDIP info by Friday

Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter

CONTRACTOR GENERAL Greg Christie has issued an ultimatum to the National Works Agency (NWA), demanding specific information regarding the execution of projects under the US$400-million Jamaica Development Infrastructure Project (JDIP) by noon Friday.

In a letter yesterday to chief executive officer of the NWA, Patrick Wong, Christie accused the agency of putting up roadblocks against requests made by the Office of the Contractor General (OCG).

Setting out a long list of OCG requests to the NWA and partial responses from the agency, the Christie-led oversight body charged that "there has been an unacceptable degree of obstruction on the part of the NWA, in providing to the OCG, detailed particulars of information regarding the execution of projects under the JDIP."

The OCG is up in arms over the seeming reluctance of the NWA to provide particulars regarding subcontractors who have been or who are to be engaged on works projects to be carried out under JDIP.

christie's request

Christie is demanding that the NWA submit, no later than May 20, evidence of NWA's 'no objection' of sub-contractors selected by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and expenditure on the project to date, to include copies of all approved payment certificates and receipts of payment. He is also requesting variations and the requisite approvals, the start-up and completion dates of the projects and the scope, values and locations of each subcontract awarded.

In a meeting with representatives of the NWA, including Wong, at the offices of the OCG on February 3, 2011, Christie said an officer of the OCG asked what was the NWA's role in the selection of subcontractors for the JDIP projects.

According to Christie, a senior NWA representative said that once the CHEC selected subcontractors, their names would be submitted to the NWA to get a 'no objection'.

The NWA executive explained that the agency examined whether subcontractors were qualified to complete the works and if they were registered with the National Contracts Commission.

However, Christie indicated that despite repeated requests from the OCG for "evidence of NWA's 'no objection' of the subcontractors selected by CHEC", the agency has refused to comply.