(Jamaica Observer) Tension between the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) and the Jamaica Association of Contractors and Consultants (JAC) widened yesterday, with the OCG calling in the police to investigate alleged threats against two of its officers.
At the same time, the OCG is holding firm that it would only be able to accommodate three representatives of the association at a planned meeting this Thursday.
The OCG said that its insistence on a limited number of persons being accommodated at the meeting, was due to threats, it alleged, were made against its officers at the JAC’s inaugural meeting on July 28 at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston. The OCG said the threats have been reported to the police, who are investigating the matter.
The JAC has, however, written to the OCG, insisting that it will be taking four representatives to the meeting to discuss concerns over long delays in the approval of applications for registration with the National Contracts Commission (NCC), instead of the three to which it has been limited by the OCG. According to JAC, this was necessary because the Incorporated Master Builders Association of Jamaica and the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprise Alliance have joined the group.
JAC chairperson Percival LaTouche last night denied that any threat was made by the contractors attending the meeting. He said he has given the police this information. But LaTouche admitted that at least two persons from the OCG infiltrated the July 28 meeting, disguised as contractors.
He said that the two ‘intruders’ whom he claimed included a chauffeur employed to the OCG were identified by contractors at the meeting, a number of whom were disturbed by their presence.
