Shaw: "Restitution be sought by way of criminal and civil proceedings." (right)Simpson Miller: "Don't trouble this girl, because I don't fraid a no man, no gal, no one."JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) Spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, claims that the audit report on the irregularities allegedly committed at the Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) New York office has recommended that "restitution be sought by way of criminal and civil proceedings."
Mr. Shaw told JLP supporters in Mandeville Saturday night that this means that some men "must wear handcuffs and short pants."
He told The Gleaner he has "impeccable information" that there is a special fund called 'Operation Grow', which was set up to combat the scars left on tourism images abroad after the incidents of July last year in West Kingston from which US$7 million is missing. The project, Mr. Shaw said, was funded at a cost of US$14 million.
The report, he said, also contains information that several "shell companies" were set to provide "inflated invoices" for goods and services. In some cases, he said, the invoices were out and "false" coming from "phantom houses". These problems, he added, have led to the JTB being unable to find money to do promotions.
Mr. Shaw also said the report recommended that "restitution be sought by way of criminal and civil proceedings."
Responding to criticisms from the JLP of her refusal to make public the report of an internal audit following accusations of malpractices at the New York office, Tourism Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, told a People's National Party (PNP) meeting in Naggo Head, St. Catherine, on Sunday night that she had been advised by the Solicitor-General and other lawyers not to reveal the information while the investigations are continuing.
Mrs. Simpson Miller reiterated that she had received the report of her internal auditor and had referred it to the JTB's board.
Mrs. Simpson Miller added: "Let we say to Shaw, listen to me now, don't you get me involved in your little, dirty, nasty, slimy politics. I will not be trapped into your little dirty, slimy tricks. Don't draw my tongue and don't trouble this girl, because I don't fraid a no man, no gal, no one."
She said that she was going to seek advice of the Attorney-General as well as her lawyers on the matter.
Meantime, the temperature of the election fever, which hit the parish officially last month, was turned up many notches when JLP leader Edward Seaga and Mr. Shaw toured the parish on Friday and Saturday.
The two, accompanied by hundreds of party supporters and candidates vying to replace the three sitting PNP Members of Parliament now representing the parish, slammed the PNP at every stop, pointing out its inefficiencies as a government.
The tour, which took Mr. Seaga to Harmons, Bellefield, Grey Ground District, Land Settlement, Knockpatrick and other areas to the south of the parish ended in the Mandeville square on Saturday night, where Mr. Seaga armed with a copy of the JLP's manifesto, repeated his earlier call for free education and a health plan for every Jamaican that will ensure they receive medical care regardless of their status.
