JLP Government wants programme to continue, says envoy
By HG HELPS Editor-at-Large Investigative Coverage Unit
icu@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 07, 2009
IN its first public comment on the so-called Cuban Light Bulb saga, the
Cuban Government has expressed disappointment with the turn of events
that have characterised the scandalised programme.
Cuba's Ambassador to Jamaica, Gisela Garcia Rivera told the Sunday
Observer in an interview that the issue surrounding the light bulb
affair had left her and the Cuban government troubled.
Garcia Rivera. I am disturbed about what happened, because it was an
important project for the benefit of the Jamaican people
"I am disturbed about what happened, because it was an important project
for the benefit of the Jamaican people," Garcia Rivera said. "In the end
when you speak with the Jamaican people about the project, the only
thing they remember is the scandal. It is disturbing and very
disappointing."
The Cuban diplomat said the objective of the project was to benefit the
Jamaican people and her country deemed it "a very serious project".
Cuba maintained a stony silence as the controversy swirled last year
over allegations of impropriety on the part of individuals close to the
project, under which Jamaica received four million light bulbs in the
first phase of a project to distribute bulbs mainly to households across
the island.
Among those implicated was Kern Spencer, the former People's National
Party state minister in the then Ministry of Mining, Energy and
Telecommunications and Member of Parliament for North East St Elizabeth,
who had direct responsibility for the programme.
Spencer was arrested in February 2008 and charged with six counts
ranging from money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and breaching the
Anti-Corruption Act. His former personal assistant, Coleen Wright is
facing six related counts. A third person, businessman Rodney Chin was
also charged, but the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
(DPP) dropped the charges and announced that Chin would turn crown witness.
The trial of Spencer and Wright is due to begin on June 22 and last for
two weeks, even as Spencer attempts to seek the intervention of the
Constitutional Court in his quest to get full disclosure of all forms of
communication and contact between the DPP's office and Chin and his lawyer.
Asked in the interview for her comments on the light bulb saga, Garcia
Rivera said that Jamaicans had already saved millions of dollars on
electricity bills arising from the installation of the bulbs, adding
that Cuba's lesson in energy conservation had paid off for the Socialist
state.
"In Cuba in the energy field, we would often replace appliances, do
things like change bulbs and we saw the effect of that on our economy.
In this global environment we are living in and the energy challenges
that we faced, we decided to co-operate with Jamaica for the country to
save money and we worked hard on that project," the ambassador added.
The Cuban government in the meantime is awaiting the go-ahead from the
Jamaican Government to resume distribution of the light bulbs.
"It has been suspended now, but the Government has told us that it wants
the programme to continue. Part of Cuba's philosophy is to share the
little that we have," Garcia Rivera said.
Light bulb scandal disturbed Cuba - JamaicaObserver.com (7 June 2009)
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