THE GOVERNMENT yesterday revealed that it has yet to receive a formal report on massive cost overruns on the controversial Sandals Whitehouse project in Westmoreland.
Responding to queries from the Opposition during yesterday's sitting of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee, Dr. Omar Davies, the Minis-ter of Finance and Planning, said the forensic team was still doing its investigation.
In November 2005, then Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced that a six-member forensic team would be set up to investigate the US$41 million (nearly $3 billion) in overruns on the project.
Meanwhile, according to the Finance Minister, the Government will be using funds from the Caracas Agreement to address the project overruns.
GOV'T UNDER FIRE
During the Standing Committee meeting, the Government had come under fire from the Opposition for its decision to award contracts to Ashtrom Building Systems for the rehabilitation of the Sabina Park cricket ground for Cricket World Cup 2007.
The Opposition pointed out, while scrutinising the 2006/2007 Estimates of Expenditure, that Ashtrom had received the contract despite its participation in the White-house project.
The issue was raised by Opposition MP, Karl Samuda, who requested the update on the forensic audit being carried out by the Government into the overruns at Sandals Whitehouse.
Mr. Samuda also pointed out that there were already problems at the Sabina Park project.
Just last week, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Cricket World Cup 2007 refused to grant Ashtrom an extension on the timeline for completion of the project.
The LOC also refused to provide more funds requested by the contractors for the completion of the project.
