Dionne Rose, Parliamentary Reporter

Government members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were on Tuesday at odds with their Opposition colleagues over whether any progress was being made in the Sandals Whitehouse probe.

Government members John Junor and K.D. Knight argued that the PAC, which is currently reviewing the US$43 million (approximately J$2.8 billion) cost overrun on the project, was questioning pointlessly those involved in the issue.

Mr. Junor also claimed Urban Development Corporation (UDC) representatives were being placed at a disadvantage as a result of the PAC's failure to quickly conclude the matter.

An abuse

"I think that what we have had here is an abuse! We had these people in here for eight weeks - the chairman, the project manager, quantity surveyor, the managing director, the architect, the legal officer, it is an abuse!" said Mr. Junor.

The disagreement between the parties developed after interim PAC Chairman Mike Henry indicated to the committee that the UDC would have to return next week.

Agreeing with Mr. Junor, Mr. Knight said the PAC had lost its focus.

"Chairman, I think we are proceeding aimlessly and I would really like to have a meeting where we determine how we are going to proceed," he said.

No focus

"What is happening now is questions are being asked all over the place. There is no real focus and I am accustomed to being in situations of this kind, where there has to be a focus," he added.

But Opposition member Audley Shaw, who has temporarily vacated the chairmanship of the committee, disagreed with the Government members, noting that there were outstanding questions for the UDC arising from an addendum to the Contractor General's report on the Sandals Whitehouse cost overrun.

"I have read the report (the addendum) very carefully and on the basis of what I have seen in the report, there are pertinent questions that remain to be asked of the Urban Development Corporation," he said.

However, Government member Charles Learmond said the PAC should stick to its schedule. It was eventually decided that the UDC would return next week to respond to the addendum to the Contractor General's report.

Meanwhile, the Gordon 'Butch' Stewart company, Gorstew, will appear before the committee on December 12.

Speaking with The Gleaner afterwards, Marjorie Campbell, chief executive officer of the UDC, said the sessions have been exhaustive.

"It is eight consecutive weeks. It must be a record and I don't believe that had ever happened at the PAC," she pointed out. "It has been impacting on our work."