The National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) has acknowledged that the Office of the Contractor General is probing the Highway 2000 project, but insisted that allegations of impropriety are "most unfortunate".

Ivan Anderson, managing director of NROCC, in response to an article in The Gleaner, on Wednesday, said, "There was no allegation of irregularity in the project, in the letter from the Office of Contractor General (OCG) that clearly stated the reasons for the enquiry.

Mr. Anderson added that the Contractor General Greg Christie-led office should be allowed to "carry out its review of the information supplied with its usual thoroughness and report on such".

In addition, Mr. Anderson pointed out that the letter, which is dated October 13, requested certain information on the Highway 2000 project primarily arising from reports of:

a) The replacement of commercial debts of the grantor, NROCC and TransJamaican Highway, the developer/concessionaire from the proceeds if a loan from BANDES of Venezuela to the Development Bank of Jamaica Limited.

b) The proposal to advance the construction of the Bushy Park to Ocho Rios link of the project, designated as a segment of phase 2 in the concession agreement.

Mr. Anderson added that the NROCC has provided the OCG with the information and also advised that it stood ready to provide any additional information which the OCG needed.