分类： politics

KINGSTON, Jamaica—After a three-year investigation into Market Me Consulting Limited, the company behind the ‘Jamaica Moves’ initiative, the Integrity Commission (IC) has found no evidence of misconduct by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton. However, the IC’s report, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighted significant governance lapses, particularly regarding undisclosed personal relationships and potential conflicts of interest. The probe focused on allegations of procurement irregularities and conflicts of interest in contracts awarded between 2016 and 2021. During this period, Market Me Consulting secured 15 contracts worth $78.5 million, primarily from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which Tufton has led since March 2016. The IC emphasized that neither Tufton nor Lyndsey McDonnough, co-managing director of Market Me, disclosed their friendship before the company was awarded these contracts. Kevon Stephenson, the IC’s Director of Investigation, noted that while Tufton was not directly involved in the $15.8 million contract for the Jamaica Moves program, he failed to formally declare his relationship with McDonnough. This omission, according to the report, contravened principles of transparency and good governance. Although breaches were identified, the matter was not referred for prosecution due to evidentiary gaps. Instead, the IC recommended that the Speaker of the House of Representatives address the conflict-of-interest concerns and urged the ministry to strengthen its procurement systems and ensure compliance with public integrity laws.

MAROUA, Cameroon — In a significant move marking the start of his re-election campaign, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state, made his first major public appearance on Monday. The 92-year-old leader, who has been in power since 1982, addressed a gathering of supporters in Maroua, a city in the Far North region, just five days before the upcoming election. This marked his first public appearance since May of this year. Speaking to a crowd of several hundred supporters from the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), Biya reaffirmed his commitment to serving the nation. “My determination to serve you remains intact,” he declared, urging the audience for their continued support. His 25-minute speech emphasized key issues such as youth employment, women’s empowerment, and infrastructure development. “My goal is for every young person, whether a graduate or not, to easily find a job or start a business. No young person will be left behind,” he assured. Despite organizers’ expectations of nearly 25,000 attendees, only a few hundred supporters were present, according to AFP correspondents. Maroua, a strategic electoral battleground bordering Nigeria and Chad, is home to 1.22 million registered voters but has been frequently targeted by the jihadist group Boko Haram. Meanwhile, opposition leader Maurice Kamto, whose candidacy was rejected in August, has urged voters to “vote freely” following the collapse of efforts to form a unified opposition front.

In a contentious move, 200 Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, as confirmed by a Pentagon official on Tuesday. This deployment is part of a broader strategy by US President Donald Trump to station military personnel in various cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Memphis, and Portland. Trump has threatened to invoke emergency powers to bypass any legal obstacles that may arise.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) has voiced significant concerns regarding the repeated leaking of Integrity Commission (IC) reports to a specific media outlet before their official presentation in Parliament. The party has labeled this practice as a severe violation of the law and a threat to the principles of good governance. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PNP highlighted a recurring pattern where IC reports are disclosed on the Nationwide News Network (NNN) prior to their formal tabling, a process mandated by the Integrity Commission Act. This law stipulates that such reports must first be submitted to Parliament and officially tabled before being made public. The PNP emphasized that these leaks undermine the authority of Parliament, erode public trust, and suggest a potential breakdown in the official chain of custody. ‘This is not merely a procedural issue; it strikes at the heart of good governance and the rule of law,’ the PNP stated, noting that the existing process is designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability, rather than allowing for selective or premature disclosures that could distort public understanding or prejudice individuals and institutions. PNP Spokesperson on Justice, Zuleika Jess, underscored the importance of safeguarding the Integrity Commission’s work from any perception of political interference or manipulation. ‘These recurring leaks before Parliamentary tabling represent a breach of lawful process and a threat to institutional integrity. Parliament’s role as the guardian of accountability must be respected, and the law must be applied evenly and consistently,’ Jess asserted. PNP Spokesperson on Information, Nekeisha Burchell, also expressed concern, pointing out that the leaks have consistently involved the same media house. ‘It is deeply troubling that official information intended for Parliament’s consideration continues to appear in the media before it is properly tabled, and even more concerning that it is consistently the same media house. This recurring breach undermines not only confidence in our governance structures but also the credibility of the information ecosystem that underpins democracy,’ she said. The PNP is urging an immediate and transparent investigation to identify the source of the leaks and to restore public confidence in the handling of Integrity Commission reports. The party reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, due process, and respect for the laws that underpin Jamaica’s democracy.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The high-profile fraud trial involving former Education Minister Ruel Reid and his co-accused took a dramatic turn on its first official day as the defence team moved to have the charges dismissed. The legal representatives argued that the prosecution’s evidence was obtained in violation of the Financial Investigations Division Act (FIDA), rendering it inadmissible in court.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dr. Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, has publicly acknowledged the findings of the Integrity Commission’s (IC) investigation into Market Me Consulting Limited, expressing relief over the report’s conclusions. The probe, which spanned three years, examined allegations of procurement irregularities and conflicts of interest involving contracts worth nearly $80 million awarded to Market Me by the health ministry. The report, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, found no evidence of wrongdoing by Dr. Tufton or Lindsay McDonnough, Market Me’s co-managing director. However, the IC criticized both parties for failing to disclose their personal friendship, which the commission suggested could have influenced the contract awards. Dr. Tufton addressed the prolonged public scrutiny, stating, ‘This matter has cast unfair doubt on my integrity and the reputations of others involved. I regret any hurt or reputational damage caused but am pleased the IC found no illegality.’ He emphasized his commitment to advancing Jamaica’s public health agenda and serving with integrity. Market Me, in a brief statement, affirmed that the report validates their professionalism and the value of their work.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Ministry of Health and Wellness has officially acknowledged the findings of the Integrity Commission (IC) regarding its investigation into procurement irregularities and potential conflicts of interest involving contracts worth nearly $80 million awarded to Market Me Consulting Limited. The report, presented to Parliament on Tuesday, culminated a three-year probe into the matter. While the ministry emphasized that no malfeasance was found among its staff, it recognized the IC’s recommendations to enhance procurement transparency and address concerns outlined in the report. Market Me Consulting Limited secured approximately 15 contracts between 2016 and 2021 for the Jamaica Moves programme, a health initiative aimed at combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through public awareness and preventive measures. The IC’s Director of Investigation, Kevon Stephenson, highlighted that Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton and Market Me’s co-managing director, Lindsay McDonnough, failed to disclose their prior friendship before the contracts were awarded. Additionally, the IC noted instances of contract splintering, a practice where larger contracts are divided into smaller ones to avoid stricter procurement regulations. The ministry defended its actions, explaining that some payments were reimbursements for goods and services already utilized in the Jamaica Moves campaign. It also outlined steps taken to address the issues, including halting advance payments, regularizing outstanding reimbursements, and finalizing a new procurement process to prevent future complications. The ministry reiterated its commitment to the Jamaica Moves programme, calling it a cornerstone of its health promotion strategy, while pledging to review the IC’s recommendations to ensure compliance with laws and policies.