INFORMATION MINISTER, Burchell Whiteman yesterday said there was no basis for consultation with the Opposition to appoint a new chairman of the forensic audit team probing the cost overruns in the Sandals Whitehouse project.
On Wednesday, civil engineer Donald Mullings, president of the Incorporated Masterbuilders' Association of Jamaica (IMAJ), resigned following objections by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Mr. Mullings is also chief executive officer of M&M Jamaica Limited which the JLP said has received large Government contracts since 2001, including a $500 million contract earlier this year from the Urban Development Corporation, which has a major stake in Sandals Whitehouse.
But yesterday, Mr. Whiteman told The Gleaner that the appointment of an audit team to investigate the $41 million cost overruns has already been passed by a motion in Parliament.
PRIME MINISTER TO DECIDE
"I would expect the prime minister (P.J. Patterson) to appoint somebody else, I see no basis for him to consult anyone else, although he might choose to do so," the information minister said.
Yesterday, Audley Shaw, JLP spokesman on finance and the public service, said his party wanted consultation on the appointment of a new chairman for the committee probing the over expenditure.
Sandra Graham, Mr. Patterson's press secretary, told The Gleaner he has not yet named a new chairman of the audit committee. Mr. Patterson is in Malta attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. He is expected home next Wednesday.
