Tufton ready to ‘move on’ despite pundits calls for more action on Market Me matter

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is accusing public commentators of wanting to keep open a case he says the Integrity Commission (IC) has closed concerning the awarding of several contracts to a public relations firm.

“You know, we’re all entitled to our opinion. I note that people are attempting to try a matter that has already been concluded on. And the results are there,” said Tufton.

He was responding to a comment made by Jeanette Calder, executive director of Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP), who said Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness should consider relieving Tufton of the health portfolio.

Calder pointed to the precedent she said was set by Holness when he relieved Dr Andrew Wheatley of the science, energy and technology portfolio, and J.C. Hutchinson – who was a minister without portfolio in the agriculture ministry, among others following adverse reports.

She said a crime or felony does not have to be committed for a minister to be removed from office when breaches of legislation and other irregularities occur.

“This is an administrative sanction that is within the purview of the prime minister who says ‘I have read this report…’” said Calder.

While noting that JAMP is still assessing the report, Calder said removing Tufton from office ought to be a serious consideration by Holness given the findings and conclusion of the report.

SANCTIONS

“I think it is a consideration when we look at, as I said, [the] precedent of what took place with the other ministers who were removed from their portfolio and for some – I think Mr Wheatley had been out for five years, J.C. a little less. But it is similar concerns and I think these are actually weightier. So, yes, it is something that should be considered,” said Calder.

In response, Tufton said the decisions around Cabinet appointments “lies with one person”.

“My focus right now is to move on to working with the portfolio and to continue to do the work that is being done on behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica,” he said.

Calder’s pronouncement followed the tabling of the IC investigation report into the awarding of contracts to Market Me Consulting Limited, co-managed by the minister’s friend.

The report said neither Tufton nor his friend Lyndsey McDonnough disclosed their “friendship” when her company secured nearly $80 million in government contracts from his ministry.

The investigation found that 15 contracts valued at $78,579,522.49 were awarded to Market Me during the period, with 14 of them issued by the ministry and one by the National Family Planning Board. The contracts were issued between 2016 and 2021.

Director of Investigations Kevon Stephenson said he saw no evidence to indicate that Tufton was directly involved in the award of a $15.8-million contract to Market Me, the issue that triggered the probe.

MARKET ME CONTRACT

That contract was used to implement the Jamaica Moves physical-fitness campaign to raise awareness about non-communicable diseases and encourage Jamaicans to adopt healthier lifestyles.

However, Stephenson criticised Tufton for not disclosing his relationship with McDonnough, especially after ministry officials confirmed that Tufton introduced Market Me.

Further, he said Tufton “indirectly” influenced the health ministry’s engagement of the marketing firm.

The director of investigations said the minister, who was appointed to the portfolio in 2016, seemed, based on the evidence, to have been integrally involved in a number of meetings with Market Me convened to discuss Jamaica Moves.

Additionally, he said the six aforementioned contracts, which were reported during the second quarter of 2019, were approved and awarded on the same date – May 1, 2019, flagging this as irregular.

“The award of six separate contracts on the same date to the same entity, in relation to the same/connected activity/programme could, without more, be construed as an attempt to splinter the contract,” he said.

Tufton said the investigation and subsequent report showed that there was no wrongdoing on his part and that there was no illegality.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com