BY STEVEN JACKSON Observer staff reporter jacksons@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, December 12, 2014
THE Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) announced that it will continue to work with Government despite its heated opposition to the purchase of the Outameni tourist attraction.
At the same time, outgoing PSOJ President Christopher Zacca announced his endorsement of William Mahfood, chairman of the Wisynco Group, to be his successor.
Zacca has decided not to seek re-election after having served five years at the helm of the powerful body during two separate periods. Yesterday, Zacca argued that “perhaps the most personally gratifying high point” in his presidency was the formation of the Partnership For Jamaica (PFJ) between the Government and private sector. The PFJ sought to increase consultation between stakeholders on issues of national import.
“However, I think that it is necessary for me to say today that, in my view, the events surrounding the purchase of the Outameni property by the National Housing Trust (NHT), and subsequent events thereafter, have negatively affected the partnership as it calls into question the commitment of all the parties to the guiding principles of consultation, inclusiveness, and communication. I have taken a strong public position on this matter based on my core beliefs on governance,” Zacca told members and stakeholders at the PSOJ’s annual Christmas Members’ Luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.
“However, today I want to make it clear that I have consulted with the membership of the PSOJ and our position is that the survival and strengthening of the PFJ is of paramount importance, and that the PSOJ will do whatever it must to, in due course, help resolve this dispute in a manner that satisfies all the parties involved and keep the partnership together and make it stronger,” he said.
Zacca added that the PFJ was the culmination of a decade of effort involving prime ministers PJ Patterson, Bruce Golding, and Portia Simpson Miller; Lloyd Goodleigh on behalf of the trade unions; and Kemesha Kelly on behalf of civil society.
In November, Zacca made a futile attempt to call on current prime minister Simpson Miller to remove Easton Douglas from the chairmanship of the NHT board. It followed an earlier announcement that the NHT board purchased the loss-making Outameni tourist attraction for $180 million. Critics, including the PSOJ, argued that the purchase went outside the remit of the NHT to provide affordable housing for Jamaicans.
Meanwhile, Zacca, in endorsing Mahfood, yesterday, described him as a man of integrity.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have been advised by the chairman of Wisynco, William Mahfood, that he intends to make himself available for election as the next president of the PSOJ on December 18. I would like to say that based on his ability, his temperament, his integrity, and his demonstrated deep commitment to the development of our nation, his candidacy has the full support of myself and my officers, and I expect that, come the evening of the 18th, William will be elected as the next president,” said Zacca.
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PSOJ to continue work with Gov"t despite Outameni scandal
