JLP wants Auditor General's probe of CTL issue

Shaw

THE JAMAICA Labour Party has called on the Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, to immediately request intensive investigations into reported irregularities at Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) by the Auditor General.

JLP spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, in a statement yesterday, said that the party was making the call because it was now aware that "the scandal involves over $600 million of funds unaccounted for".

Mr. Shaw said that following the formal letter of complaint written to Minister Davies by the President of the Jamaica Race Horse Trainers Assoc-iation, Lee Clarke, the JLP considers Dr. Davies' reference of the matter to new CTL chairman, Howard Hamilton, for his investigation as "grossly inadequate and entirely inappropriate".

He said that having regard to the seriousness of the issues involved, Dr. Davies must now remove the investigation from the hands of the CTL and place it within the impartial purview of the Auditor General's Department.

"Any action less than this will lead to speculation about the integrity of the investigation and the validity of the conclusions", Mr. Shaw said.

The Gleaner reported on June 13, that Dr. Davies had written Mr. Hamilton requesting a full probe into the allegations made by the trainers, including that some $300 million of simulcast racing funds were unaccounted for.

The over 70 trainers also claimed that "vast amounts of money" were donated to candidates and participants in the last General Elections from the CTL funds.

Dr. Davies in his letter to Mr. Hamilton requesting the probe, said that although he could not substantiate the charges, he was of the view that detailed investigations were necessary to "clear the air."

The trainers have already expressed their dissatisfaction with the request for Mr. Hamilton to handle the investigations and have expressed support for the intervention of the Auditor General.

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