The government has announced the appointment of new members to the board of Petrojam, following the resignation of three Jamaican board members.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister says Cabinet has approved the appointment of former Chairman of Supreme Ventures Limited, Paul Hoo and former Vice Presidents of Scotia Bank Rosie Pilner and Wayne Powell.
In the meantime, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology has been ordered to prepare a report on the operations of Petrojam with specific attention to various allegations in the public domain.
According to the statement, the report is to be ready for the next meeting of Cabinet, where it is expected that the permanent secretary and the senior management team of Petrojam will attend and present the report.
Last night, Cabinet met to discuss the issues regarding Petrojam that are of concern in the public domain.
Meantime, the Opposition People’s National Party has objected to the permanent secretary in the Energy Ministry, probing the alleged breaches at the state-owned oil refinery, Petrojam.
Cabinet has directed that Hillary Alexander prepares a report on the operations of Petrojam with specific attention to various allegations in the public domain.
Opposition Spokesman on Energy, Phillip Paulwell says Ms. Alexander is the accounting officer, responsible for the day-to-day and overall management of entities falling under the ministry, such as Petrojam.
In a statement responding to the Cabinet decision today, Mr. Paulwell says it is inappropriate to task Ms. Alexander with such a role.
He says investigation, is an inappropriate role for the accounting officer who should be telling the country what she knew and when, on many of the reported breaches.
The Opposition Spokesman on Energy says the Cabinet should set up a transparent mechanism to root out any corruption and whoever is responsible is identified and punished.
He says the opposition absolutely repudiates the cabinet’s decision to designate Ms. Alexander as the investigator because it does not inspire public confidence that the government is serious about the investigation.