KINGSTON – Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Tuesday rejected Contractor-General Greg Christie's suggestion that the government reconsider exempting some contractual arrangements at five major public bodies from its procurement procedures.

At the same time, the prime minister firmly outlined for the contractor-general the boundaries of his authority.

"It is not the function of the contractor-general to set the rules, that is the responsibility of the National Contracts Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and the Parliament," the prime minister said in a statement to the House of Representatives.

Golding said that in setting, or amending the procurement rules, although there was no requirement to consult the contractor-general, his Government always considered his views important and worthy of careful consideration. However, he pointed out that final determination must rest with those authorised to do so.

The five bodies being exempted are Air Jamaica, Petrojam Limited, the Port Authority of Jamaica, Jamaica Vacations Limited and the Jamaica Tourist Board.

The prime minister's response was the latest episode in a row between Christie and the administration over the cabinet's decision to exempt "in limited, specified transactions and subject to particular conditions", certain public sector entities from government procurement procedures.

(Jamaica Observer)