FRAUD SQUAD detectives will today execute warrants of arrest on the seven persons ruled charged by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in connection with the massive irregularities uncovered at four National Housing Development Corporation/Operation PRIDE projects.
Reports are that the seven will be accompanied by their lawyers and should arrive at the Fraud Squad department, downtown Kingston, by 8:30 this morning. From there, they will be taken before the St. Andrew Criminal Court.
Lucius Thomas, Deputy Commissioner of Police, speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, said the bulk of the 80 charges will be slapped on east Kingston Businessman, Danhai Williams,
Carl Kirkland, Warren Sibbles and Donovan Hill. Sibbles and Hill are former officers of the NHDC, while Williams, who is closely alligned to the governing People's National Party, is the head man at the construction outfit, DanWills Construction. The others to be charged are Dwight Dawkins, Wayne Nash and Eugenia Porter.
The charges are in relation to offences which include forgery, uttering, demanding property, conspiracy, and obtaining by false pretence. Irregularities amounting to some $450 million, have been uncovered in relation to four Operation PRIDE projects.
- Melbrook Heights, St. Benedicts, Morant Farms and Riverton City, several of which were managed by Danwills Construction.
Operation PRIDE is the government's shelter programme targeted primarily at low income earners. Prospective beneficiaries form themselves into deposit taking provident societies and contribute to the development of their housing schemes with cash and other equity.
The programme, conceived by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in 1994, has however been dogged by controversy since its inception. In 2002 there were charges that the project was being loosely managed, opening up the floodgate of corruption.
Dr. Karl Blythe, then Minister of Water and Housing became the first casualty, resigning in April 2002, following a damning report from the Erwin Angus-led Commission appointed by the Prime Minister to probe the operations. The Commissioners branded him a meddling Minister routinely interfered in the day-to-day running of the programme. Dr. Blythe was later exonerated after a probe conducted by Carl Rattray, former Solicitor-General, who was also appointed by Mr. Patterson, found that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
The Angus Commissioners had, however, recommended that a forensic audit be carried out on certain projects and that police investigations be pursued into allegations of fraud, with respect to the Morant Farms and St. Benedicts projects. There are nearly 120 PRIDE projects across the island in varying stages of completion.
In response to concerns that some of the persons to be charged may have had time to leave the island, DCP Johnson said yesterday: "Based on intelligence, the seven persons are all here in Jamaica. None have gone overseas."
