New CEO for NWA Soon

A new Chief Executive Officer is expected to be appointed soon for the National Works Agency (NWA).

This was disclosed by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing the Hon. Dr Omar Davies in a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday Feb. 21.

He informed that the response from qualified persons for the post, which became vacant in 2011, was “overwhelming”.

"We await the completion of the selection process which is being executed by the Office of the Services Commission and the Public Service Commission,” Dr. Davies stated.  

Work on JDIP Audit Continues  

On the matter of the forensic audit of the Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme (JDIP), Dr. Davies said the draft terms of reference for the audit were reviewed by both the Attorney General and the Auditor General and their comments were incorporated into the final document.

“I should indicate that the draft terms of reference were also sent to the Contractor General’s Office. While not commenting on the contents, the Office of the Contractor General advised the Ministry of their intention to monitor the process that will be used to engage consultants,” he said.

The Transport Minister further informed that the National Contracts Commission approved the request from the Ministry to utilize the limited tender methodology to engage the consultants. Accordingly, the request for proposals was sent to six firms, which operate locally and internationally.

Dr. Davies also gave a summary of the schedule to select the consulting firm and to conduct the audit: Invitation date, February 12, 2012; Closing date for receipt of proposals, February 29, 2012; evaluation date, March 4, 2012; opening of financial proposals, March 15, 2012; review by various National Contracts Commission Committees, March 16-23, 2012; contract signing, March 29, 2012 and start date for the audit, April 2, 2012.

In his first presentation to the Lower House on the JDIP project, Dr. Davies had indicated that the combination of payments made for work completed (payments due for work completed and the value of new work orders issued) totaled US$398.1 million.

This means only US$1.9 million was left to be allocated from the US$400 million loan, which was intended to finance a five year project.

Meanwhile, Dr. Davies informed that there were outstanding amounts of money totaling US$60 million or $52 billion owed to contractors who worked on JDIP projects.

“As we speak there are outstanding amounts due to the contractors as part of the government of Jamaica’s 15 per cent counterpart funding of the project. On Friday last I met with the regional representative of the contractor to explain that the full sum owed for the financial year 2011/12 cannot be paid, but all efforts will be made to address the arrears in the financial year 2012/13,” the Minister said.

He however added that the decision has been made to complete projects which had been started as well as to construct the Westmoreland Bridge (located in St. Mary).

“However I have instructed that wherever possible, ongoing projects should be re-scoped in order to allow for the reallocation of US$50 million to fund the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme. For example, the Westmoreland Bridge originally costed at US$21 million, has been re scoped by reducing the planned expenditure on the approaches,” Dr. Davies said.

He also informed that the Ministry has started a programme of patching, based on the greatest need. Dr. Davies also informed that this programme will be expanded island wide in financial year 2012/13 requiring expenditure of approximately $500 million as a Capital ‘A’ project. Further details will be announced as the budget for the financial year 2012/13 is finalised.

By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter