The company at the centre of a personal cheque made payable to Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resource Santia Bradshaw for $7 500 has responded to the controversy.
The cheque was written by the civil engineering firm Errol Clarke Associates. It was subsequently stolen by Tyrone St Elmo Holford who attempted to cash it.
In a statement on Sunday the company’s Managing Director, Errol Clarke, said Bradshaw’s charity was among several such causes it assisted this year.
According to Clarke, Christmas is a time of providing relief to the less fortunate in our society and over the years our company has regularly made monetary contributions to organisations that provide assistance to the needy including churches, fraternities and both political parties (BOTH DLP and BLP).
“That contribution was not made with any intent of receiving favours from the Minister or the Ministry of Transport Works and Water Resources as I am not currently working for MTWW nor does the company have any active bids before that Ministry for consideration,” Clarke wrote in the statement. “The last project on which I worked for MTWW was awarded to us before the current Minister was in charge of her current Ministry.”
Clarke said his company has been operating since 1986, and over the past 37 years, it has worked extensively with several private sector entities as well as government departments including Ministry of Transport , Works and Water Resources, Urban Development Commission, Ministry of Health and Wellness and Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training and been involved in studies in the Scotland District, East Coast as well as the Warrens Project to name a few.
At a news conference on Saturday, President of the Democratic Labour Party, Dr Ronnie Yearwood, called for Bradshaw’s resignation or dismissal.
He expressed concern, citing the Integrity In Public Life Act and highlighting the need for public officials to disclose gifts exceeding $2 500 to the commission. He pointed out that the $7 500 cheque should have been reported under this law, suggesting a violation by Bradshaw.
Bradshaw has also clarified that the cheque was part of a charitable contribution to her annual Christmas hamper and food voucher programme, which she has been organising for years to support families in her constituency. She said the contribution wasn’t related to any products or services provided to her ministry.
“This programme predates my becoming a Minister of Government. I strongly object to the insinuation of there being anything untoward about a cheque being submitted to my office and being deposited into an account from which funds are used to underwrite a charitable programme that assists thousands of families and households in St Michael South East.
“The benefactor in this instance is not currently providing any product or service to the Ministry over which I preside. This particular contribution could have been written to my charity or in my name, as it was done. Either way, it was processed by my office and the proceeds went to the people of my constituency,” Bradshaw, the Leader of Government Business in the Lower House of Parliament said in her statement.
PHOTO: iStock Photo
(PR/DLB)
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