Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

Clive Mullings (right), Opposition member of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), makes way for K.D. Knight, Government member, following a verbal clash over seating arrangements during yesterday's sitting of the PAC. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Contractor General Greg Christie, who yesterday made his last appearance before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee which is examining the Sandals Whitehouse debacle, says his office had been subjected to verbal attacks during the three sittings.

The claim, while supported by Opposition members, was dismissed by Government member K.D. Knight.

Minutes after Mr. Christie's pronouncement, Government member John Junor created a firestorm when he asked the Contractor General if he had a relative linked to the Sandals Whitehouse project. This drew a sharp response from newly-appointed Opposition member, Clive Mullings, who warned that a dangerous precedent was being set when public servants are subject to personal attacks.

Difficult circumstances

Mr. Christie pointed out that his staff work under difficult circumstances, interfacing with senior public officials. "We are faced with insurmountable obstacles and I can tell you, Mr. Chairman, that I feel very badly about the attacks that the Office of the Contractor General has been subjected to."

Mr. Knight said he would not accept that claim, contending that to be questioned should not be construed as an attack.

Mr. Mullings said the committee should be cognisant of the role and position of the Contractor General "and not at this point in time attack him and be pejorative."

Following several sotto voce remarks directed at Mr. Christie, PAC Chairman Audley Shaw stepped in and said: "You clearly have a mission to attack the Contractor General and it is not good. It's not good for the public sector and it's not good for this Public Accounts Committee."

Pressing to ask his question, Junor said: "It is on the street I have heard it and I think it is important," noting that it was related to the Contractor General's report on the Sandals Whitehouse affair.

Mullings interjected on a point of order, asking whether Junor intended to proceed on "rumour or innuendo."

However, Junor continued, arguing that the question was germane. "Do you Contractor General have any close or other relative working with one of the parties involved in this report?"

An agitated Mullings queried: "Where is this going? Is the Contractor General going to answer this question? Absolutely not."

Mr. Christie said he was willing to answer the question, adding that he had nothing to hide, but Mullings again intervened with a stern caution.

"Might I warn this committee that we are opening up a Pandora's box, if when public officials come, especially at the level of a Contractor General to ask questions about what is on the street. (This) is to say the least very alarming," he declared.

Mr. Christie asked Mr. Junor which relative and entity he was making reference to, but the Government member could not respond.

Seating arrangement

Earlier during the sitting, tempers flared over a seating arrangement, which led to the suspension of the meeting in an attempt to resolve the matter.

Mullings, who replaced Dr. Horace Chang, was at the centre of the furore. He sat in a chair previously occupied by Knight during the first two meetings. Knight sought to take the seat but Mullings refused to yield.

Knight then proceeded to take a seat next to Chairman Audley Shaw.

It was after Knight made an attempt to speak from the chairman's mike that emotions boiled over.

Shaw rejected the move contending that the member should be properly seated among the other committee members. Declaring that he would have none of it, Shaw told Knight that he was "out of order," then suspended the sitting.

However, the proceedings continued with Mullings taking another seat and Knight returning to his previous position.