TWO DAYS before the findings of the contractor general's special report on the Mabey Johnson bribery case are to be tabled in Parliament, anti-corruption advocate Professor Trevor Munroe believes Member of Parliament Joseph Hibbert could find himself in big trouble.

"Based on the allegation in the prosecution note before the British courts, as well as the admission by Hibbert that breaches of the civil-service procedures 1976 occurred, I would not be surprised if the Office of the Contractor General's (OCG) probe found that Hibbert has a case of misconduct to answer," Munroe told The Sunday Gleaner.

paid him kickbacks

Hibbert has been at the centre of the OCG corruption investigation since United Kingdom (UK)-based bridge-building company Mabey and Johnson said in court it paid him kickbacks to secure contracts on its behalf.

UK prosecutors have alleged that the relationship between Hibbert and the bridge-building company dates back to 1993 when he was chief technical director in the Ministry of Works.

Contractor General Greg Christie, who investigated the circumstances under which Mabey and Johnson benefited from government contracts, on Friday sent a copy of his report to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and the commissioner of police.

The contractor general normally sends his report to the DPP and the police commissioner whenever he believes an act of criminality has been committed.

forced to step aside

Meanwhile, well-placed Jamaica Labour Party sources have disclosed that Senator Dr Ronald Robinson, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and former Senator, Ian Murray, are the two front-runners for the seat in the event that Hibbert is forced to step aside. "Robinson is being strongly proposed by the party, but a decision has yet to be made," the inside source confirmed.

As pressure continues to mount on Hibbert, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) has ignited the coal fire in the constituency as it seeks to retake the seat.

Senior PNP sources have confirmed that Paul Buchanan, who was an unsuccessful candidate representing the PNP during the last general election, is to be named as the party's parliamentary candidate.

best-placed person

"Soundings indicate that he is the best-placed person to beat Hibbert," The Sunday Gleaner was told.

Buchanan, who was replaced as the party's choice to contest Central Westmoreland by Roger Clarke last election, defeated Ian Emmanuel, Peter Blake and Andrew Willis in a four-way run-off to represent the PNP in the next general election.

Buchanan reportedly received 58 per cent of the votes and is the person in the constituency who stands the best chance of beating the JLP's Hibbert.

Hibbert beat the PNP's Mikael Phillips by a narrow 270-vote margin in a seat that was created in 1959 and won seven times by the PNP to four by the JLP in contested elections.

In 2007, Hibbert polled 8,315 votes to 8,045 for Phillips, as 60.9 per cent of the 27,142 electors voted.

The PNP last won the seat in 1997, when Oliver Clue polled 6,769 votes to beat the JLP's Oswald Harding by 1,950 votes.

was chief technical director in the Ministry of Works.

Contractor General Greg Christie, who investigated the circumstances under which Mabey and Johnson benefited from government contracts, on Friday sent a copy of his report to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and the commissioner of police.

The contractor general normally sends his report to the DPP and the police commissioner whenever he believes an act of criminality has been committed.

forced to step aside

Meanwhile, well-placed Jamaica Labour Party sources have disclosed that Senator Dr Ronald Robinson, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and former Senator, Ian Murray, are the two front-runners for the seat in the event that Hibbert is forced to step aside. "Robinson is being strongly proposed by the party, but a decision has yet to be made," the inside source confirmed.

As pressure continues to mount on Hibbert, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) has ignited the coal fire in the constituency as it seeks to retake the seat.

Senior PNP sources have confirmed that Paul Buchanan, who was an unsuccessful candidate representing the PNP during the last general election, is to be named as the party's parliamentary candidate.

best-placed person

"Soundings indicate that he is the best-placed person to beat Hibbert," The Sunday Gleaner was told.

Buchanan, who was replaced as the party's choice to contest Central Westmoreland by Roger Clarke last election, defeated Ian Emmanuel, Peter Blake and Andrew Willis in a four-way run-off to represent the PNP in the next general election.

Buchanan reportedly received 58 per cent of the votes and is the person in the constituency who stands the best chance of beating the JLP's Hibbert.

Hibbert beat the PNP's Mikael Phillips by a narrow 270-vote margin in a seat that was created in 1959 and won seven times by the PNP to four by the JLP in contested elections.

In 2007, Hibbert polled 8,315 votes to 8,045 for Phillips, as 60.9 per cent of the 27,142 electors voted.

The PNP last won the seat in 1997, when Oliver Clue polled 6,769 votes to beat the JLP's Oswald Harding by 1,950 votes.