Pressure mounts on PM to explain non-delivery of police vehicles

 

Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to intervene amid growing controversy over the non-delivery of police vehicles despite a contract being issued and payment made to the supplier O'brien's International Car Sales and Rental.

 

In a statement, the People's National Party (PNP) renewed its call for Mr. Holness to move swiftly to address what it described as the web of confusion and gross dereliction of duty by Minister of  National Security Robert Montague in the matter. 

 

It also raised concern about the status of sixty-six of the 200 police vehicles which were ordered.

 

PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson told RJR News in a follow-up interview that there are conflicting reports regarding when the vehicles will be cleared from the wharf.

 

The PNP wants the Prime Minister to instruct the National Security Ministry to state clearly what is causing the continued refusal of Jamaica Customs Agency to release the vehicles.

 

RJR News has been trying unsuccessfully to get a comment from Mr. Montague.

 

 

The Opposition is also complaining that the Government has failed to answer questions tabled in the House of  Representatives regarding the purchase of  the police vehicles and other issues of  national importance.

"These questions tabled by Mr. Bunting (regarding the vehicles) are about six months outstanding," Robinson said.

He reiterated that, from the start of the procurement process there had been concerns highlighted by the Opposition, "and the Government has refused to answer any of the concerns."

Nor had the Speaker, Pearnel Charles, "who has oversight and authority for the functioning of the Parliament," been able to get the Government to answer any of the questions "on this issue, plus on many other issues affecting the country," he complained.

That state of affairs was "a total disregard and disrespect for the Parliament of the country," he declared.