Attorney-at-law Kirk Barrow (left) examines the citation that was presented to him yesterday by The Gleaner's Editor-in-Chief, Garfield Grandison, at the company's North Street offices. Mr. Barrow is The Gleaner's Silver Pen winner for the month of July. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

FOR what many see as his unflinching stance in the Sandals Whitehouse affair, Contractor General Greg Christie has won his share of admirers, including Florida-based attorney, Kirk Barrow.

If Mr. Barrow had his way, the Contractor General would not be Government-appointed. This, he said, would make the office more independent and effective. Mr. Barrow is the latest recipient of the Gleaner's Silver Pen Award, presented to the writer of the publication's letter of the month.

He received his award yesterday at the newspaper's North Street office.

In his letter, published July 22, Mr. Barrow praised Mr. Christie's report on the Sandals Whitehouse property in Westmoreland which revealed overruns of over US$40 million.

Expose corruption

He said it was time a public official exposed corruption in "high places."

"How does the Government plan to make it known that it is not business as usual and the time has come to account to the people of Jamaica? What we know is that nepotism, corruption, cronyism, concealment and fraud are the order of the day and are practised by those entrusted to ensure the welfare of all Jamaicans. The arrogance exhibited by those involved is unacceptable," Mr. Barrow wrote.

An attorney who practises in Fort Lauderdale and Kingston, Mr. Barrow told The Gleaner that the recent grilling of Mr. Christie during the Public Accounts Committee hearings on the Sandals Whitehouse 'scandal', is evidence that there needs to be a redefinition of the Contractor General's office.

"As it stands right now, he's appointed by the Government, so it's a stop-gap position," said Mr. Barrow. "If it was a constitutional position, he could act independently and not be concerned with attacks against his office."

Mr. Barrow, 48, has proposed changes to the Jamaican Constitution which will make it more protective of the average citizen. He also supports reforms including separation of powers, a set date for general elections and term limits for party leaders.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies and Howard University in Washington D.C., Mr. Barrow was born in Kingston but resides in South Florida.