Dear Editor,
The various bits of information need to be brought together with regards to the “donations” that went unreported to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) treasury.
In the Wednesday, August 31, 2016 issue of the Jamaica Observer there are two pieces of information that permit an answer to the question put by the National Democratic Movement (NDM) in a letter to the Editor, to wit, “What is the pound of flesh which was paid in exchange for such a large sum?”
On page four, under the headline, ‘Omar lashes Burke for ‘reckless’ statement’, Omar Davies is reported accusing Paul Burke of saying that Chinese firms are known to pay a one per cent to 1.5 per cent ‘agent’s fee’, and that Burke “alluded” that the agent’s fee amounted (probably) to US$10 to US$12 million.
On the other hand, the leaked Norman Horne report mentions a figure of US$20 million. Let’s take it that Horne is more accurate, since he investigated and before reporting to the PNP executive.
So what may be inferred from these pieces of information? If US$20 million is 1.5 per cent, then 100 per cent is some US$1.3 billion or even larger. The only Chinese project which is in this price range is the Goat Islands logistics hub, which numerous environmentalists have stated would be an environmental disaster. Locating the optimal logistics port below the Vernam Field Airport is reported in a CSF Technical Series 31, October 2014 study partially funded by the World Bank to cost hundred of millions of United States dollars less than the Goat Islands site.
What really was for sale or exchange via donations?
Howard Chin
hmc14@cwjamaica.com
The various bits of information need to be brought together with regards to the “donations” that went unreported to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) treasury.
In the Wednesday, August 31, 2016 issue of the Jamaica Observer there are two pieces of information that permit an answer to the question put by the National Democratic Movement (NDM) in a letter to the Editor, to wit, “What is the pound of flesh which was paid in exchange for such a large sum?”
On page four, under the headline, ‘Omar lashes Burke for ‘reckless’ statement’, Omar Davies is reported accusing Paul Burke of saying that Chinese firms are known to pay a one per cent to 1.5 per cent ‘agent’s fee’, and that Burke “alluded” that the agent’s fee amounted (probably) to US$10 to US$12 million.
On the other hand, the leaked Norman Horne report mentions a figure of US$20 million. Let’s take it that Horne is more accurate, since he investigated and before reporting to the PNP executive.
So what may be inferred from these pieces of information? If US$20 million is 1.5 per cent, then 100 per cent is some US$1.3 billion or even larger. The only Chinese project which is in this price range is the Goat Islands logistics hub, which numerous environmentalists have stated would be an environmental disaster. Locating the optimal logistics port below the Vernam Field Airport is reported in a CSF Technical Series 31, October 2014 study partially funded by the World Bank to cost hundred of millions of United States dollars less than the Goat Islands site.
What really was for sale or exchange via donations?
Howard Chin
hmc14@cwjamaica.com