( L - R ) Clarke and Christie Contractor General Greg Christie has accused the Petroleum Company of Jamaica (PETCOM) of providing inaccurate information to his office concerning the award of a contract in 1998 to Elegant Traders - a company owned by chairperson of PETCOM,Barbara Clarke.
According to the Contractor General, PETCOM earlier reported that the 1998 contract was awarded to Elegant Traders, but it was later discovered that Barsam Limited had received the contract. Ms. Clarke is also the principal of this company.
In a report tabled in Parliament last month, Mr. Christie had raised concerns that Ms. Clarke may have influenced the award of contracts to her business, Elegant Traders.
Allegation dismissed
This allegation was subsequently dismissed by Ms. Clarke and her attorneys.
Communication officer at the Office of the Contractor General, Claudia Williams, told The Gleaner yesterday that on January 12 this year PETCOM advised the Contractor General that Elegant Traders had received a contract in 1998. On June 17, 2007, PETCOM informed the Contractor General that Barsam Limited was now Elegant Traders Limited.
However, she said checks by the Office of the Contractor General with the Companies Office of Jamaica revealed that both companies were listed as separate entities.
In his letter dated February 27 to Ms. Clarke's attorneys, the Contractor General said he was now satisfied that no contract was awarded by PETCOM to Elegant Traders in 1998.
In addition, Mr. Christie said he was disturbed that despite two letters previously written to his office outlining Ms. Clarke's case, her attorneys have only now seen it fit to disclose that the contract was awarded to Barsam Limited.
Meanwhile, attorney for Ms. Clarke, Howard Mitchell, told The Gleaner Power 106 News that the allegations by the Contractor General were unfounded, adding that a response to Mr. Christie's claims was being prepared.
The Contractor General said he was now "giving active consideration to the question as to whether there are any actionable grounds for referring this matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions."
The Auditor General has also been informed about the matter.
