OCG responds to May Pen Mayor's concern

The Office of  the Contractor General (OCG) has commented on the controversy surrounding Contractor General, Dirk Harrison's recent attendance at a function hosted by the Clarendon chapter of  the Lay Magistrates Association Awards .

In a release on Thursday, the OCG said said it noted media comments alleging that Harrison told persons at the function that he was uncomfortable being in the presence of  Mayor of  May Pen, Scean Barnswell.

In seeking to clarify the matter, the OCG said Harrison was invited by the Custos of  Clarendon, William Shagoury, to be the guest speaker, and he was unaware of  the Mayor's participation until he arrived and reviewed the programme.

It said the Contractor General did not address Barnswell but spoke with  Shagoury prior to the start of the function.

According to the OCG, the concern was specifically in relation to the Contractor General not being comfortable with the perception that could arise from the fact that he was asked to be the guest speaker at the function where the Mayor was asked to bring greetings.
     
The OCG's statement asserts that at  no time did the Contractor General publicly object to the Mayor's presence, neither did he ask the Mayor to leave the function. It added that Barnswell is currently before the Courts, in a matter in which the Contractor General is a complainant, and that the Contractor General, having provided a witness statement,  means that he is a potential witness in the case.
     
In relation to the statements made by the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA) regarding the principles of Natural Justice, the OCG stressed that the Contractor General was in no way making a pronouncement on the guilt or innocence of  the Mayor.  It said the Contractor General, in keeping with convention, was merely ensuring that the matter involving the Mayor would not be perceived to have any taint of  impropriety through inappropriate contact.   
 
The OCG said legal protocols require that witnesses avoid all contact with an accused, in cases where the matter is to be adjudicated by a criminal court. The OCG, in its release, advised that the Contractor General is in receipt of  a letter from  Barnswell and will provide a response in due course.