Hibbert resigns

[evanovitch]

State Minister resigns amidst bribery allegations
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Joseph Hibbert has resigned as State Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works.

RJR News broke the story on Tuesday afternoon that Mr. Hibbert's resignation takes effect immediately. 

Mr. Hibbert's resignation comes four days after the British firm Mabey and Johnson, a UK based international bridge building company, pleaded guilty to bribing Jamaican and Ghanaian officials in the Westminster Magistrate's Court.

Mr. Hibbert tendered his resignation following a meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding Monday.

He said his resignation will allow him the time and freedom to clear his name.

Mabey and Johnson has been charged with offenses of corruption and breaching UN sanctions.

The prosecution for corruption arose from the company's voluntary disclosure to the British Serious Fraud Office of evidence to indicate that the company had sought to influence decision-makers in public contracts in Jamaica and Ghana between 1993 and 2001 by bribing them.

The matter came to public knowledge last year when Mr. Hibbert was named as a person of interest in the investigation.

Mr. Hibbert's Tucker Avenue, St. Andrew home was raided as investigators sought to find out whether he received kickbacks from Mabey and Johnson.

At the time Jamaica did business with Mabey and Johnson, Mr. Hibbert was Chief Technical Director in the Works Ministry.

RJR News sources say local police travelled to the UK where they were briefed by their counterparts on allegations of corruption that they had on Mr. Hibbert.    

In the meantime, Mr. Hibbert's Attorney, Earnest Smith is rushing to defend the image of his client in light of his resignation.

Mr. Smith told RJR news that he is convinced that the former State Minister is innocent, arguing there was no pressure for his client to resign.

"I am satisfied based on the documentary evidence in my possession that at no time did Mr. Hibbert receive any bribe from Mabey and Johnson. In the interest of transparency Mr. Hibbert has volunteered to step down until such time the investigation has been completed and his good name is restored to the high elements it has always occupied," Mr. Smith said. 

Meanwhile, the Opposition says it feels vindicated that its call for the state minister to resign has finally been heeded.

Last week the People's National Party called for Mr. Hibbert to demit office in the public interest while investigations into the bribery allegations continued.

Party Chairman Robert Pickersgill told RJR News that even though the state minister is to be presumed innocent at this point, he should have stepped down long before in his own interest and in terms of his duty to the Jamaican public.

"His attorney has been unnecessarily dramatic about the matter and has made recent statements that would suggest that he wasn't about to step aside,

"But I think it was very unfortunate that we had to wait this ling and he still enjoys the presumption of innocence it would have been much better had he done so before," Mr. Pickersgill said.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Hibbert resigns


Good if he did something wrong I hope he get to answer for it.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-style: italic">Good if he did something wrong I hope he get to answer for it. </span></div></div>
Absolutely!

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Good if he did something wrong I hope he get to answer for it. </div></div> I think you would blame the whole party and especially the leader. Then I think again and realize that it is not th ePNP or manley,or PJ Parterson,so you start iffinf if this and if that. You are always so sure and ready to come down on the PNP that i thought you would for a momoent do sio with th eJLP, but reality took over.

[evanovitch]

Cite names, Smith threatens to sue Mabey &amp; Johnson

Cite names, Smith threatens to sue Mabey &amp; Johnson
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
One of the lawyers representing former Junior Minister for Transport and Works Joseph Hibbert, is threatening to sue United Kingdom (UK) bridge building company Mabey and Johnson Limited.

Attorney-at-law Ernest Smith says if the firm refuses to name the persons to whom it paid bribes a lawsuit will be filed.

Mr. Smith has given Mabey and Johnson a few weeks to break its silence.

He is also planning to use diplomatic channels to get information from the firm.

Mr. Smith contends that Mr. Hibbert's name has been tarnished by bribery allegations and the UK company's refusal to name the recipients has made matters worse.

Scapegoat

&quot;The reason why Mabey and Johnson is remaining silent is because they themselves know that Joseph Hibbert is being made into a scapegoat. If Mr. Hibbert was not being made into a scapegoat would they not have said specifically from day one that these monies went into account one or two, three, four which belong to Mr. Hibbert ... would they not have made those disclosures? asked Mr. Smith.

He said his client will continue to attend Parliament and will be in the House when its meets Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. Hibbert stepped down as a State Minister on Tuesday saying his resignation will allow him the time and freedom to clear his name.

It came four days after Mabey and Johnson Limited pleaded guilty to bribing Jamaican and Ghanaian officials to get state contracts.

At the time the company did business with Jamaica, Mr. Hibbert was Chief Technical Director in the Transport and Works Ministry.

Henry to pick up the slack

Meanwhile, Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry says Mr. Hibbert's resignation will not cause any major disruptions at the Ministry as he will assume the duties which were carried out by the former Junior Minister.

Mr. Henry says he is awaiting word from the Prime Minister on whether a new State Minister will be appointed.

&quot;Obviously I have to take up the slack but I've recently made changes to the National Works Agency ... beginning to strengthen its technical capabilities. I've had discussions with the former Minister of State and he has explained to me where we are with that and I'll take up the slack,&quot; he said.

[evanovitch]

MR HIBBERT'S BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

EDITORIALS

MR HIBBERT'S BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS
Thursday, July 16, 2009
We are staunch believers that a man is innocent until proven guilty. That is why we will resist might and main the temptation to try Mr Joseph Hibbert who resigned Tuesday as junior transport and works minister, less than a week after the British firm Mabey and Johnson pleaded guilty to bribing officials in Jamaica and other countries to win bridge-building contracts.
We, of course, agree that had Mr Hibbert stepped aside the minute his name was implicated, it would have looked good and would have headed off any appearance of him being pushed.
Mr Hibbert was chief technical director in the Ministry of Transport and Works in the 1990s, the period during which the United Kingdom firm allegedly paid the bribe. Jamaica House, in announcing Hibbert's resignation, said it followed a meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding. The prime minister's office quoted Mr Hibbert as saying: &quot;.In view of the allegations of bribery of Jamaican Government officials made in the UK courts by the British firm Mabey and Johnson Limited, in which I am implicated, I have today decided to submit my resignation as minister of state in the Ministry of Transport and Works to the honourable prime minister.&quot;
Furthermore: &quot;.This resignation will allow me the time and freedom to clear my name and my integrity as former chief technical director in the Ministry of Transport and Works during the 1990s to which the allegations refer,&quot; he explained in the letter.
What a day that will be when Jamaican public officers begin to see it fit to step aside voluntarily when they are implicated in such matters alleging corruption, to allow the investigative process to move ahead without let or hindrance. Unfortunately, many officers believe that resignation is tantamount to an admittance of guilt. They therefore rob themselves of the honour that could be theirs.
For that reason, we disagree strongly with Mr Hibbert's attorney, Mr Ernest Smith who told our newspaper: &quot;My advice to him was that there was absolutely no need for him to step down but he, being a very honest man and who does not want his name to be bandied about, has said 'I will resign until these matters are cleared up because I know I shall return'.&quot; Mr Hibbert did the ringht thing, even if belatedly.
At the very same time, we will not hug up anyone from the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) who, forgetting their party's still recent history, were calling for Mr Hibbert's head. It's a case of the &quot;pot calling the kettle black&quot;.
For the litany of corruption allegations thrown at the PNP while it was in power over 18 years, how many people have resigned? In the drama over the Trafigura affair, Mr Colin Campbell was the lone sheep tossed to the wolves, so to speak. To this day, no one has claimed paternity for the fact that $30 million went into PNP coffers, an amount which has supposedly been returned to the oil trading firm.
Our nation has a vested interest in getting to the bottom of the allegations against Mr Hibbert by Britain's Serious Fraud Office, as well as by our own Office of the Contractor General, which in January this year began its own probe.
We want to believe Mr Smith in his assertion that &quot;officers from Mabey and Johnson have tried to use Mr Hibbert's name as a means of siphoning off funds from the company&quot;.
But the UK firm having pleaded guilty to 10 charges of corruption relating to contracts in Jamaica, Ghana and Iraq suggests that Mr Hibbert has a steep hill to climb.

[evanovitch]

UK firm declines to name politicians it bribed

UK firm declines to name politicians it bribed
Thursday, 16 July 2009
UK based bridge building company Mabey and Johnson has declined to comment on the possibility of being dragged into court by former Transport and Works Junior Minister, Joseph Hibbert. Wednesday, Mr. Hibbert's lawyer, Ernest Smith, threatened to file a suit against the company unless it disclosed the identity of any Jamaican involved in the ongoing bribery saga.

When RJR News on Thursday contacted Mabey and Johnson for a scheduled interview, the company's spokesman, Jon McLeod, stated that in view of Mr. Smith's remarks on RJR News he was not prepared to have dialogue with the media.

Mr. McLeod said all the relevant facts will be disclosed by the prosecution at the sentencing hearing.

When asked directly to name any Jamaican involved Mr. McLeod argued that the case is half way through the judicial process and he could not engage in any such discussions.

He pointed out that if any organisation could move in that direction at this time it would have to be the Serious Fraud Ofice (SFO).

RJR News proceeded to contact the SFO which also declined to provide a name or names.   

In the meantime, the preliminary court hearing initially scheduled for Friday has been adjourned until Monday, August 10.

This is due to the unavailability of barristers on the day.

Sentencing in the case is not likely to be heard until much later in the year.

Last Friday, Mabey and Johsnon pleaded guilty to bribing public officials in Jamaica and Ghana, in a bid to win bridge-building contracts.

The offences took place in the 1990s at which time Mr. Hibbert was the Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Transport and Works.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Good if he did something wrong I hope he get to answer for it. </div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think you would blame the whole party and especially the leader. Then I think again and realize that it is not th ePNP or manley,or PJ Parterson,so you start iffinf if this and if that. You are always so sure and ready to come down on the PNP that i thought you would for a momoent do sio with th eJLP, but reality took over. </div></div>

You are an idiot, in all my posting here I have always come down on whichever side is fingered . But get this while you could not wait to pounce on me you have freaking ignored the fact that I said:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">A.</span> It was a good thing that he stepped down

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">B.</span> When this thing was first reported I said if he is in any way shape of form in the wrong he should not be given any political responsibilities. You would not know because as it turns out, even when I make comments in the same thread that you are running up your face in you don't even freaking notice it!

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">C.</span> This thing happened while he was working as an employee of the Government of Jamaica under a PNP Administration. So in effect the fault squarely lies in the PNP Administration.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">D.</span> Bruized Gelding is at fault for not vetting his Candidates properly but I cannot see how the JLP is at fault for what this man did when they were not in power.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">You are nothing but very slimy, nasty, disgusting, partisan hack that seems not to be able to read and comprehend much less reason</span>.

[evanovitch]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> But get this <span style="font-weight: bold">while you could not wait to pounce on me you have freaking ignored the fact that I said</span>:
</div></div>

u really type dis star?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> But get this <span style="font-weight: bold">while you could not wait to pounce on me you have freaking ignored the fact that I said</span>:
</div></div>

u really type dis star? </div></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">Yes what is wrong with it?</span>

[evanovitch]

PHILLIPS URGES THOROUGH PROBE IN MABEY AND JOHNSON CASE

PHILLIPS URGES THOROUGH PROBE IN MABEY AND JOHNSON CASE
Friday, July 17, 2009
East Central St Andrew Member of Parliament Dr Peter Phillips is insisting that the Government do more about the allegations of bribery and corruption surrounding British firm Mabey and Johnson and East Rural St Andrew Member of Parliament Joseph Hibbert.
Hibbert on Tuesday resigned as junior transport and works minister, less than a week after Mabey and Johnson pleaded guilty to bribing officials in Jamaica and other countries to win bridge -building contracts. In his resignation letter, Hibbert, who was chief technical director in the Ministry of Transport and Works in the 1990s - the period that the UK firm allegedly paid the bribe - said his decision would give him time and freedom to clear his name. He however remains the member of parliament for East Rural St Andrew.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday during his contribution to the 2009/2010 Sectoral Debate, Phillips said while Hibbert had done the right thing in resigning from his post, &quot;more needs to happen&quot;.
&quot;The country needs to be assured that a full investigation is going to be undertaken by Jamaican authorities, not just by the contractor general but by the Jamaican police,&quot; he said, noting that the country's reputation was at stake [which was] the doing of both the ruling Jamaica Labour Party and his party when it was in power.
The usually calm Hibbert, who was in the chamber at the time, seemed unperturbed by Phillips's remarks. However, he came alive for perhaps the first time since the sitting commenced and smiled and made several comments to colleagues in earshot.
Sources on Tuesday said Hibbert had been forced to throw in the towel. It was also felt that the resignation was a pre-emptive tactic should there be unfavourable developments in the case, including the anticipated report from investigations being carried out by the contractor general.
The Office of the Contractor General, which in January this year began its own probe into the bribery allegations, this week said its probe was well underway.
In the meantime, Ernest Smith, senior counsel representing the embattled former state minister, has denied that his client was forced to step aside to prevent any smear on the Government and defended his innocence.
&quot;I would be very surprised if Mr Hibbert is charged for any offence whatsoever under the Corruption Prevention Act or any act at all, and if he is charged I guarantee that as long as I remain his senior counsel the charges will be boxed away in the wink of an eye by me,&quot; Smith told the Observer.
He said, too, that he believes that the bridge-building company, which was under prolonged investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, was &quot;trying to implicate Hibbert because they want to preserve their contractual relationships with the Government of Jamaica&quot;.

[evanovitch]

Mabey &amp; Johnson/JA relations could continue

Mabey &amp; Johnson/JA relations could continue
Friday, 17 July 2009
The Government is to seek legal advice to ascertain if it can engage in future contractual arrangements with United Kingdom (UK) bridge building company Mabey and Johnson Limited, which is at the centre of an international bribery scandal.

RJR News understands that the firm has expressed an interest in maintaining business relations with Jamaica and is eyeing the contract to build a new bridge at Harbour View in St. Andrew.

<span style="font-weight: bold">It has also emerged that the British firm owns the intellectual rights for constructing bailey bridges which are commonly used in Jamaica.</span>
However, Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry, there are no existing contracts with the company.

He says he will be seeking guidance from the Attorney-General as well as Cabinet on how to treat future tenders from the firm.

&quot;I don't know that if a company has pleaded guilty you could just say they can't get work from us. I think they collected tender documents when we advertised work for the Harbour View Bridge, but whether they handed them in, I don't know,&quot; said Mr. Henry.

The Minister added that the Government will have to tread carefully <span style="font-weight: bold">as there could be legal ramifications if it unilaterally blacklists Mabey and Johnson</span>.

According to the Mr. Henry, the National Contracts Commission (NCC) would also have to be involved in the decision making process.

&quot;When you put something out to tender (and) any company is allowed to tender, you then evaluate the bidders. That's something for the NCC and other agencies and I would not want to make an issue of it at this time but from a Ministerial position, I would have to look at it very carefully,&quot; he said.

Mabey and Johnson Limited, has in the past, received state contracts to construct bridges in Jamaica.

It was involved in building the Yallahs Bridge in St. Thomas three years ago.

New date for Mabey &amp; Johnson's sentencing

Meanwhile, the preliminary hearing to set a date for sentencing in the bribery case against Mabey and Johnson has been postponed until August 7.

The hearing was originally scheduled for Friday, July 17 at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Mabey and Johnson is expecting a heavy fine for corruption and illegal payments.

The firm last week pleaded guilty to bribing public officials in Jamaica and Ghana in order to get state contracts.

It was charged with the offences following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.

It was the first prosecution brought in the UK against a company for overseas corruption.

The charges relate to activities in Jamaica and Ghana from 1993 to 2001, as well as one offence involving applications for contracts under the Iraq Oil for Food programme.

Earlier this week, State Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works Joseph Hibbert tendered his resignation.

Mr. Hibbert, who was a Technical Director in the Ministry, said his resignation will allow him the time to clear his name.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Mabey &amp; Johnson/JA relations could continue

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mabey &amp; Johnson/JA relations could continue
Friday, 17 July 2009
It has also emerged that the British firm owns the intellectual rights for constructing bailey bridges which are commonly used in Jamaica. </div></div>

.... which just show how much of a joke it is to worry about so-called foreign invasion and the thinking that our Military can protect us from anything. If our Army was that good to start with its Engineers would be charged with erecting the temporary bridges in the event of a catastrophic failure, instead we are wholly and solely dependant upon a foreign company.

[sistactry]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> But get this <span style="font-weight: bold">while you could not wait to pounce on me you have freaking ignored the fact that I said</span>:
</div></div>

u really type dis star? </div></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">Yes what is wrong with it?</span> </div></div>

i like u and the doc, i think unu is very intelligent and can teach us all a thing or two, but your manners is unbelievable RUDE..

yes....I cant believe u typed this, u need to go edit it, if you are any kind of a decent man,
<span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">
shame on u~ </span></span>

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Hibbert resigns

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SistaCtry</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> But get this <span style="font-weight: bold">while you could not wait to pounce on me you have freaking ignored the fact that I said</span>:
</div></div>

u really type dis star? </div></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">Yes what is wrong with it?</span> </div></div>

i like u and the doc, i think unu is very intelligent and can teach us all a thing or two, but your manners is unbelievable RUDE..

yes....I cant believe u typed this, u need to go edit it, if you are any kind of a decent man,
<span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">
shame on u~ </span></span> </div></div>

Sorry doc is not intelligent.... other than that and a few minor details you are correct.
I bet the idiot Doc never get a lecture from the likes of you.
Imagine you Country who talk about folks you don't like in terms that would raise the hair on a dead saint's chin.
I don't mind the lecture when I have to respond to attacks. Some idiot on this Board is not going to determine whether or not I am decent.... I leave that to folks I do business with.... <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">I tend to respond to the face I am shown a guy or gyal don't like it bite already!</span>