Christie

SENIOR OFFICERS at the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) have reportedly received "veiled threats" yesterday and earlier this week from a caller to the agency, as it moves to smash what could be a major fraud or criminal collusion ring in public contracting.

The OCG yesterday disclosed it was vigorously probing five irregular contractor re-registration applications, which were linked.

"A person who claimed to be the brother of the director who filed the five applications telephoned two senior officers of the OCG during the past week and made veiled threats to them," a release from the OCG said.

According to the OCG, the caller said that he was "very powerful" and was connected to the ruling "Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)" and "could get things done very quickly".

The OCG further explained: "When he was advised that the applications were being investigated, he told one of the OCG's directors that he now 'knows what he had to do'."

The Gleaner has been informed that the caller, who had identified himself, has been reported to the Police High Command.

The OCG said the matter has been reported to Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green.

In a quick response, general secretary of the JLP, Karl Samuda, said the party condemns any threat levelled against the OCG.

"Anyone who seeks to gain favours by threatening a public official, particularly in the Office of the Contractor General, will be condemned by the Jamaica Labour Party," he declared.

Alleged irregularities

Giving details about the alleged irregularities, the OCG said the five applications were submitted this year to the National Contracts Commission (NCC) between September and October by a single director of one of the applicants.

Preliminary investigations by the OCG have uncovered that all five contractors received 'sole source' small project contracts from one of the country's largest public bodies.

Further, none of the contracts received by three of the five contractors were approved by the procurement committee of the public body.

In its release yesterday, the OCG also pointed to another matter it deemed significant.

According to the agency, on two of the applications for re-registration, current employees of the public body were listed as members of the professional and technical staff of the contractors.

"One of the remaining three applications also lists as the sole member of its professional staff an individual who possesses the same name, particulars, qualifications and certifications as a person who was recently brought before the courts on multiple criminal charges associated with government contracts," the release stated.

It has also been noted by the OCG that the five contractor applications were supported by identical letters of recommendation attesting to the competence of the contractors.

"All of the letters purport to have been written by an assistant general manager of the public body in question," the OCG said.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com