Thursday, May 01, 2014
OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness yesterday urged Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to step in on the controversy raging around the process of developing a 381 MW energy plant to rationalise energy costs.
 |
| HOLNESS… the prime minister needs to restore the integrity of the process (right) PAULWELL… under pressure |
Holness told reporters at a brief press briefing inside his office at Gordon House, following the budget debate yesterday, that Simpson Miller must rein in Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell, following the latest disclosures relating to the energy plant.
"I think the PM should look at that very carefully, very seriously and rein in her minister," Holness told reporters.
"Some damage has been done [and], from my perspective, I think the prime minister needs to step in. The prime minister needs to restore the integrity of the process, and the prime minister needs to act decisively and quickly to reassure the nation that we have not lost the project," he added.
Holness explained that the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been carefully reviewing the events of the past few days relating to the project.
"We have always maintained that this is an important national project. It is an important national goal to have an efficient energy sector and to have cheaper electricity. But what we have seen happened in the past few days is that the way in which the minister is handling the project places this national goal at risk," Holness said.
"Firstly, it is highly improper and irregular that a minister of government would publicly say that he would bring influence to bear, of whatever form, on an independent commission in the form of the Office of the Contractor General. more
No comments:
Post a Comment