JLP demands answers to Solutrea affair

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Saturday | July 28, 2007

By: Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

THE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP), yesterday demanded that Cabinet break its silence on the Solutrea cellular licence affair.

It also questioned the reputation of Keith J. Walker, a Barbadian businessman who is principal of WIISCOM in that country, which is associated with Solutrea, Jamaica.

Clive Mullings, the JLP Spokesman on Technology, said Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies should explain why Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell has not passed on a cheque to the Spectrum Management Authority, one week after he received it from Solutrea, Barbados.

"The minister will be committing the unlawful act of detinue by keeping in his possession a cheque, over which he has no authority, not made payable to him," Mr. Mullings said during a press conference at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters in St. Andrew.

"Why has the Minister of Finance remained silent on this whole affair and not demanded the release of the cheque from the Spectrum Management Authority?"

The authority regulates mobile spectrums on behalf of the Government.

On June 1, Mr. Paulwell told Parliament that his ministry had issued a licence for Solutrea to operate in Jamaica. He said this was done after extensive due diligence by the Ministry of Finance. The minister said Solutrea was required to pay $510 million to the authority by the end of June.

Mr. Paulwell withdrew the licence on July 11, when Solutrea did not meet the deadline. Eight days later, he said the way was clear for Solutrea to regain the licence as a handwritten cheque, signed by Mr. Walker, had been paid.

Reneged on payments

Mr. Mullings also challenged the Finance Ministry's due diligence. He used newspaper reports out of Barbados to show that Mr. Walker had reneged on payments for a wireless licence fee to the Barbadian Public Utilities, and a sponsorship deal with the Barbados Football Association.

When the Solutrea licence issue broke one month ago, the JLP called for Mr. Paulwell to give a comprehensive statement to Parliament. But on Monday, Parliament was dissolved as the JLP and the ruling People's National Party prepare for the August 27 general election.