Sangster

FORMER HEAD of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC), Bindley Sangster, is now working out of the offices of the Ministry of Transport and Works as the minister's political adviser.

Sangster exited the JUTC following Contractor General Greg Christie's accusation, 10 months ago, that the then JUTC boss had made a false statement designed to mislead the contractor general's office during an investigation of alleged irregularities at the state-owned bus company. Christie had referred Sangster's alleged false statement to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to pursue, possible criminal investigations in November 2008. DPP Paula Llewellyn later submitted the file to the police for further investigation.

Mike Henry, the minister of transport and works, in a recent interview, assured The Gleaner that the former JUTC boss was not being paid out of the public purse. "He is not paid or earning any salary either by the Govern-ment, from the ministry or even any private source," Henry stressed.

cross-checks

When pressed as to why Sangster has to work from his office, Henry said, "He operates from (my office) so when I am there, he is there, when I am not there, he checks for anything for me."

In explaining Sangster's role as his political adviser, Henry, speaking hypothetically stated: "I am in May Pen watching a football match, he (Sangster) brings the files home from the ministry for the day's work and I read the files and if there is something I have to ask him or follow up, he does it for me."

Henry was further asked, why Sangster did not operate from a constituency office instead of his office. "No. He is not helping the MP (member of parliament), he is helping the minister," he replied.

Henry, in the interview, said his permanent secretary, Dr Alwyn Hayles, had informed him that the case against Sangster had been dropped.

"The one from the contractor general, the permanent secretary can advise you, the case has been dropped, that's what the permanent secretary tells me," Henry said.

However, a number of calls over a two-week period to get a comment from the permanent secretary were unsuccessful as he was said to be either in a meeting, out of office or had not yet arrived. Further attempts to reach Hayles for a response through email also proved futile.

defended sangster

During the heat of the saga, Minister Henry had rushed to Sangster's defence, being critical of Christie and raising questions about whether he had overstepped his boundaries by recommending criminal sanctions against Sangster.

In December, DPP Paula Llewellyn had said, "The DPP's office has reviewed the report thoroughly but is still constrained in its ability to make an informed decision as to whether or not anyone should be prosecuted for a criminal offence."

She further stated that "in keeping with the dictates of criminal law and the various issues that the director (of public prosecutions) considers when determining to undertake a criminal prosecution, material must be gathered that will enable the Crown to, at the very least, establish a prima facie case".

Thus, the matter was handed over to Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin by the DPP which named media practitioner Susan Simes, her company, Simber Productions Limited, and Bindley Sangster as persons of interests who should be the target of the investigations.