The Integrity Commission's Special Report on the probe into allegations concerning certain donations by Petrojam for the period April 2016 to March 2018 revealed conflicts of interest.
For the period 2017 to 2018, there was a 127 per cent increase in the amount spent by Petrojam for donations.
According to the Integrity Commission, Floyd Grindley, the then General Manager of Petrojam, improperly inserted himself into the process by his unauthorized recommendation for two million dollars to be donated to the Munro College Old Boys Association.
This has been considered a breach of Petrojam's Donations Policy which mandates that the Human Resource Development and Administration Managershould determine the amount to be donated.
The Director of Investigation says further consideration must be given to whether Mr Grindley's involvement in the donation gave rise to a conflict of interest, given his admission that Munro College is his alma mater.
A J$6 million sponsorship of the National Science and Technological Fair also raised a red flag for the Integrity Commission.
The Director of Investigation says it is tainted with suspicion given the absence of evidence of the request to Petrojam for the donation.
A statement provided to the Director of Investigation by Dr Andrew Wheatley regarding his relationship or affiliation with Sophia Deer was described as disingenuous.
The Director said the conclusion is based on Dr Wheatley being less than truthful when he described Miss Deer as his former Technical Assistant.
Miss Deer has been revealed to be the mother of Dr Wheatley's nephew. She served on several boards within the then Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology.
The Director of Investigation also concluded that the approval of a donation of US$60,000 and J$6 million by Dr. Perceval Bahado-Singh, in his role as Petrojam Chairman, to the Scientific Research Council, constituted a conflict of interest.
The Director said this conclusion was based on the fact that Dr Cliff Riley, Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council, is not only an academic affiliate of Dr. Bahado-Singh, but was revealed to be a close friend.
The Director's investigation revealed that Dr. Riley was a groomsman at the wedding of Dr Bahado-Singh.
Paulwell
Integrity Commission report also revealed that Phillip Paulwell, MP for East Kingston and Port Royal, made a request to Petrojam for a donation to Camperdown High School, situated in his constituency.
Mr. Paulwell informed the Director of Investigation that the letter he wrote seeking the donation was done on the advice of Dr. Wheatley.
Valentine Bailey, Principal of Camperdown High, told the Director of Investigation that no construction was undertaken to upgrade the school's sporting facility as the donation was not enough.
Mr. Paulwell informed the Director of Investigation that only a portion of the donation to the school was spent and the balance is held on an interest bearing account at National Commercial Bank.
The sum spent was reportedly $1.75 million, used to carry out surveying and architectural services.
The Director of Investigation was not provided with official banking records by Mr. Paulwell or the Camperdown High Principal to confirm the balance at National Commercial Bank.
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