The Integrity Commission has revealed that a company linked to the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden, incurred a cost overrun of over $23 million for work done.
That’s according to a report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The IC’s investigation was prompted by allegations that the ministry frequently used direct contracting or limited tender for procurement and favoured certain bidders.
Daina Davy tells us more.
Nubian 1 Construction is owned by a cousin of Roberts Risden’s husband.
It was awarded two contracts in 2019.
The first contract, valued at over $37 million for emergency repairs, saw an overrun of nearly $19 million.
The second 10-million-dollar contract for executive suite renovations experienced a $5 million cost variation due to additional work.
The Integrity Commission’s Director of Investigations, Kevon Stephenson says, Roberts Risden endorsed and approved both contracts.
However, in a response to the Commission, the former Permanent Secretary said she was unaware of the family connection until after signing.
She says she disclosed this information to the ministry’s former director of administration.
But the director later told the Commission they could not recall the disclosure.
Mr. Stephenson says the conflict of interest was not appropriately managed, thereby constituting an actual conflict of interest.
This is premised on the fact that the representation made by Mrs. Roberts-Risden in relation to her verbal disclosure cannot be verified nor would it have been sufficient to meet the requirements of various policies.
The IC recommended that the matter be referred to the Office of the Services Commission for review.
However, the Integrity Commission could not substantiate the more serious charge of favouritism in the bidding process.
According to the Report 238 contracts totaling over 820 million were awarded between 2016 and 2019 by the Ministry.
Of that figure $246 million worth was through direct contracting and 348 million via limited tender.
The IC found no evidence that Nubian 1 Construction was a preferred contractor, as it received only two contracts during the period.
Roberts Risden, who served as Permanent Secretary since 2015, was reassigned last month to lead Jamaica’s farm work program in North America under a two-year assignment.
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