Former Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell on Monday
declared that he was not aware that his Junior Minister might have been
involved in any illegal activity under the Cuban Light bulb programme.
Mr. Paulwell was the first to take the stand in the Kern Spencer trial, which began Monday.
Mr. Spencer and his former Executive assistant Colleen Wright Monday formally pleaded not guilty to several counts of breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act and Corruption Act.
The Former Energy Minster said in 2005 Cuban President Fidel Castro agreed to supply Jamaica with four million energy saving bulbs under the Cuban Light bulb distribution programme.
He said the project was conducted with success in his constituency of East Kingston and Port Royal and in East Rural St. Andrew.
Mr. Paulwell said he decided to extend the programme islandwide and placed his Junior Minister Kern Spencer in charge of this exercise.
He said the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) was responsible for the implementation and funding of this $30 million project.
Throughout his testimony, Mr. Paulwell indicated that he was not involved in the day to day running of the programme and relied on updates from his Junior Minister and then-PCJ Chairman, Dr. John Cooke.
He also disclosed that Cabinet did not approve the project and he never sought this approval.
Mr. Paulwell told the trial that it was not the practice of Ministers to form companies to implement programmes under their control, noting that this was against procurement rules laid down by the parliament.
The former Minister made it clear that he had not given Mr. Spencer permission to form any company to carry out his mandate under the Cuban light bulb programme.
When Prosecutors read a list of ten company names to the former Minister, he responded that he only heard of them when Energy Minister Clive Mullings tabled a report on the light bulb racket in Parliament.
He said he had no dealings with any of the companies named.
Under cross examination on Monday afternoon from Queens Counsel K.D. Knight, Mr. Paulwell was confronted with a letter written by PCJ Group Managing Dr. Ruth Potopsingh in which she challenged the claim that the PCJ was responsible for the implementation of the light bulb programme.
The trial continues Tuesday.
Mr. Paulwell was the first to take the stand in the Kern Spencer trial, which began Monday.
Mr. Spencer and his former Executive assistant Colleen Wright Monday formally pleaded not guilty to several counts of breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act and Corruption Act.
The Former Energy Minster said in 2005 Cuban President Fidel Castro agreed to supply Jamaica with four million energy saving bulbs under the Cuban Light bulb distribution programme.
He said the project was conducted with success in his constituency of East Kingston and Port Royal and in East Rural St. Andrew.
Mr. Paulwell said he decided to extend the programme islandwide and placed his Junior Minister Kern Spencer in charge of this exercise.
He said the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) was responsible for the implementation and funding of this $30 million project.
Throughout his testimony, Mr. Paulwell indicated that he was not involved in the day to day running of the programme and relied on updates from his Junior Minister and then-PCJ Chairman, Dr. John Cooke.
He also disclosed that Cabinet did not approve the project and he never sought this approval.
Mr. Paulwell told the trial that it was not the practice of Ministers to form companies to implement programmes under their control, noting that this was against procurement rules laid down by the parliament.
The former Minister made it clear that he had not given Mr. Spencer permission to form any company to carry out his mandate under the Cuban light bulb programme.
When Prosecutors read a list of ten company names to the former Minister, he responded that he only heard of them when Energy Minister Clive Mullings tabled a report on the light bulb racket in Parliament.
He said he had no dealings with any of the companies named.
Under cross examination on Monday afternoon from Queens Counsel K.D. Knight, Mr. Paulwell was confronted with a letter written by PCJ Group Managing Dr. Ruth Potopsingh in which she challenged the claim that the PCJ was responsible for the implementation of the light bulb programme.
The trial continues Tuesday.
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