Ennis denies claims re corruption FORMER MINISTER of State for Finance Errol Ennis, says he was never presented with any evidence to support the claims made by the Jamaica Race Horse Trainers Association (JRHTA) about corruption at Caymanas Park. Mr. Ennis was responding yesterday to questions from The Gleaneron a claim made by the JRHTA, in a letter to the Minister Dr. Omar Davies in May, that they had informed Mr. Ennis about corrupt practices at Caymanas Park and had provided him with documented evidence to support the charges, but nothing was done. Among the charges were that: over $300 million from simulcast racing at Caymanas Park were unaccounted for; that less than a quarter mile of road leading to the track had cost $10 million to be repaved; that one horse stall (12 feet by 13 feet) at the track had cost $500,000 to be built; and that three bounced cheques (including Govern-ment tax) were issued to the company by a director. The trainers told Dr. Davies in their letter: "From time to time, we not only reported to Minister Ennis the following, but present to him documents of proof." But, Mr. Ennis told The Gleaner yesterday: "I got no such evidence. I didn't have any evidence whatsoever." Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, has requested newly-appointed chairman of CTL, Howard Hamilton, to conduct a detailed investigation into the charges as quickly as possible. But, the trainers said yesterday that they were not satisfied with an investigation. The Gleaner understands that the board is also planning to employ a private auditor to do an internal audit of the company's accounts, but the trainers want the audit to be done by the Auditor-General. "We are not satisfied with the employment of an auditor to do an internal audit. We think that the Auditor-General should do the audit. We didn't call for an investigation either, we want an audit by the Auditor-General," president of the association, Lee Clarke, said yesterday.
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