Dear Editor,
I would like to take time out to voice my objection to the present Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining Phillip Paulwell's handling of the 381MW energy project. This minister has a history of incompetence. Who can forget the NetServ debacle in 2002 which popularised the "youthful exuberance" response by then former Prime Minister P J Patterson. He tried to convince us that it was not "willful or callous neglect" and he then gave him a slap on the back.
Fast-forward to 2007, with the Solutrea Telecom controversy when Paulwell was telecoms minister.
Let us now visit the Cuban light bulb scandal, which came to the fore in November 2008, concerning Paulwell's then junior minister, Kern Spencer, who had responsibility for the distribution of the free Cuban fluorescent light bulbs.
Now it is the 381MW energy project which has been bungled by Minister Paulwell. The Office of the Contractor General tabled a report that Paulwell interfered in the bidding process. Even with this egregious handling of the project, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller indicated that she will not fire Paulwell and she is standing by him.
The scuttling of this energy project has wide implications on Jamaica, especially businesses. It was reported on June 10, 2014 by GraceKennedy that they will be moving a portion of their production to Ghana because the high energy costs in Jamaica.
With all the documented dereliction of duties by Phillip Paulwell I am of the view that he should do the right thing and resign. His negative history is like a dark cloud over the Jamaica. He is no youth. There is no more youthful exuberance.
Patrick Callum
patrickcallum@yahoo.com
Too old for youthful exuberance
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I would like to take time out to voice my objection to the present Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining Phillip Paulwell's handling of the 381MW energy project. This minister has a history of incompetence. Who can forget the NetServ debacle in 2002 which popularised the "youthful exuberance" response by then former Prime Minister P J Patterson. He tried to convince us that it was not "willful or callous neglect" and he then gave him a slap on the back.
Fast-forward to 2007, with the Solutrea Telecom controversy when Paulwell was telecoms minister.
Let us now visit the Cuban light bulb scandal, which came to the fore in November 2008, concerning Paulwell's then junior minister, Kern Spencer, who had responsibility for the distribution of the free Cuban fluorescent light bulbs.
Now it is the 381MW energy project which has been bungled by Minister Paulwell. The Office of the Contractor General tabled a report that Paulwell interfered in the bidding process. Even with this egregious handling of the project, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller indicated that she will not fire Paulwell and she is standing by him.
The scuttling of this energy project has wide implications on Jamaica, especially businesses. It was reported on June 10, 2014 by GraceKennedy that they will be moving a portion of their production to Ghana because the high energy costs in Jamaica.
With all the documented dereliction of duties by Phillip Paulwell I am of the view that he should do the right thing and resign. His negative history is like a dark cloud over the Jamaica. He is no youth. There is no more youthful exuberance.
Patrick Callum
patrickcallum@yahoo.com
Too old for youthful exuberance
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