THE OPPOSITION Jamaica Labour Party has called on Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to order an independent review of all consultants, advisers and special ambassadors now employed by the government and its agencies.
Earlier this week, the JLP had criticised the appointment of Dr. Davis as an attempt to cover up "yet another scandal," adding that Dr. Davis was too close to the situation" to exercise impartiality.
In a statement issued Thursday, Mr. Shaw said that while he was casting no aspersions on the integrity of the Cabinet Secretary, the fact was that the wholesale proliferation of "these extraordinary and questionable appointments had taken place right under his nose, including the Prime Minister's Office which has the largest share of consultants."
"The public needs the assurance that the review will be carried out in a comprehensive way, casting a wide net to report on the existence and value of other consultancies which include many other former MPs, some operating behind the cover of limited liability companies," Mr. Shaw said.
"Dr. Davis is in our view, too close to the situation and his recent public utterances on the issue also confirms a predisposition on the issue which threatens to compromise the integrity of the review," Mr. Shaw said.
Mr. Shaw said the Prime Minister should establish an independent inquiry into the matter, "that should look at the issue in a comprehensive way including all Government Agencies, probing into all the tentacles of political cronyism, and political corruption as well as value for money considerations."
