Several ministers face a grilling at the next session of Parliament as a series of questions related to the Marriott Hotel, Amaila and other controversial projects are listed to be answered.
Having secured control of Parliament at the November 28 general elections, the opposition has set about flexing its muscles.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds is to answer in writing a question from AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan over the proposed construction of a terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. Controversy erupted here on November 18, 2011 after Stabroek News reproduced on its website a report from the Jamaica Observer that the Chinese company CHEC was to build a new terminal.
No statement had been made locally on the project up to that point and it was only later that day that the Government Information Agency released a statement on the matter. The pattern was the same in relation to the recent disclosures about ANSA McAl’s interest in a biofuel farm here.
In relation to the airport project, GINA had said that Cabinet had approved a US$138M design and construction contract with CHEC. Construction is to commence this year and is expected to take a total of 32 months, GINA noted. The government had later said that the financing was made available by China contingent on the selection of a Chinese firm for the project.
Ramjattan is to ask the PM to provide copies of the agreement with China Harbour Engineering Company to design and build the terminal.
Ramjattan is also to query Minister of Works Robeson Benn on the contract documents for the controversial Amaila Falls Access Road project and the payments made to date. The government recently spectacularly fired Fip Motilall from the project after months of charges that he was not qualified for the task.
The AFC MP is also to ask Minister of Finance Ashni Singh for a copy of the agreement between the government and the China Shanghai Construction Group for the building of the long-promised Marriott hotel. Ramjattan is also to ask for a copy of the MOU/agreement for the holding company associated with the project, Atlantic Hotel Inc. He is also to ask if feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments were done. He is also to quiz the minister on the financing structure and whether there is a government guarantee to any of the stakeholders.
On another controversial topic, AFC MP Catherine Hughes is to ask the Prime Minister for a list of all persons/businesses who have been approved for radio licences. Several names of persons close to the government have been approved while others have been rejected without reasons provided.
Ramjattan is also to ask the Minister of Works to provide copies of the report of the independent engineers on the defects of the Supenaam Stelling. Years after the report was commissioned it has not been made available.
APNU MP Amna Ally is to ask the Minster of Education a series of questions on the rehabilitation of juveniles, the pilot project to improve the teaching of Math and English and on the condition of the Uitvlugt and Paramakatoi secondary schools.
The Prime Minister is also down to move a motion setting out the government’s position on the composition of parliamentary committees. The government has also at the same tine gone to court to challenge the opposition’s domination of these committees on the ground that it violates the relevant standing orders.
